Lang
8/27/22
An Iowa City elementary school was briefly locked down during a nearby police chase through a cornfield on Friday.
Officers began pursuing a stolen 2006 Toyota Tacoma being driven by 36-year-old Deonte House just after 2:45 Friday afternoon near Scott Boulevard and Highway 6. The chase led to the roundabout at Sycamore Street and McCollister Boulevard, where House drove into a cornfield. Witnesses tell KCJJ House drove around the cornfield seemingly randomly before ditching the car and attempting to flee on foot. Damage to the corn in the field is estimated at over $10,000.
As officers searched the field, nearby Alexander Elementary School was briefly locked down, and Johnson County deputies briefly set up a perimeter at the Sycamore Apartments on Kountry Lane, which sits along the south border of the field.
House was eventually taken into custody. A search of the vehicle reportedly turned up a small amount of marijuana, a bottle of prescription pills and a container with 16 individually packaged baggies containing an unknown substance wrapped in foil. The substance was sent to the DCI lab for testing. Investigators say House’s name was on paper found inside the bag.
House is charged with 2nd Degree Theft, Felony Eluding, 1st Degree Criminal Mischief, Trespassing Causing Damage Over $300, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug. If convicted on all charges, House faces a maximum of 23 years in prison. He lists his address as both Des Moines and Cicero, Illinois.