Lang
10/8/24
A Muscatine County man has been arrested after he allegedly fled from a traffic stop in Columbus Junction, then crashed his car and initiated a manhunt.
According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Junction Police attempted a traffic stop just after 3:00 last Thursday afternoon for a 2008 Nissan Maxima committing multiple violations. The driver reportedly stopped, exited his vehicle, then re-entered the vehicle and sped away. The driver fled westbound from downtown Columbus Junction, nearly colliding with multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed. The driver continued on Hwy 92 where they crashed at a road construction barrier near X17, then rolled the vehicle several times. The driver ran from the crash into timber to the south.
A perimeter was set up by law enforcement, later locating the subject using a police K9 and a drone. A Louisa County deputy was injured in the attempt to capture the subject in the timber and sustained minor injuries. The suspect was later identified as 46-year-old Francisco Nunez of Muscatine. Nunez complained of injuries, but was later cleared at a local hospital.
Nunez is charged with Felony Eluding, Driving While Revoked, Driving While Suspended, Interference With Official Acts, and numerous traffic violations. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of over 11 years in jail.