Lang
5/10/23
A Chicago-area man faces numerous charges after a police chase near West Branch.
The Iowa State Patrol reports attempting a traffic stop on a 2001 Chevy Express cargo van with dark windows travelling westbound on Interstate 80 just east of the Herbert Hoover Highway exit just after 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. The driver refused to stop, touching off a police chase reaching speeds up to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit. Once the pursuit ended, the driver and sole occupant of the van reportedly tried to flee on foot.
The driver was eventually taken into custody and identified as 34-year-old Jonathan Phillips of Aurora, Illinois. The State Patrol says three phones and $4,382 in cash were found on his person. The van allegedly smelled of marijuana, and 276 grams of the substance was found in a backpack behind the driver’s seat.
Phillips is charged with Felony Eluding, a Controlled Substance Violation, Permitting Use of a Controlled Substance in a Vehicle or Structure, and two counts of Interference With Official Acts. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over 12 years in prison.