Lang
3/28/25
A retired law enforcement officer is being credited with helping a Johnson County deputy with a resistive suspect during a speeding stop Thursday afternoon.
According to a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, just before 2:15 p.m. a deputy stopped a blue Chevy pickup for speeding near Gingerich Road SW and Highway 1, located between Iowa City and Frytown. The driver, 40-year-old Joshua Fratzke of Iowa City, refused to identify himself upon initial contact. Officers say he repeatedly demanded to see the radar reading in the deputy’s patrol vehicle before he would comply with the request to identify. The deputy then attempted to take Fratzke into custody and he became uncooperative.
A retired peace officer who was passing the scene stopped to assist. They were able to successfully restrain Fratzke until more deputies arrived, at which point Fratzke was placed into handcuffs and taken into custody.
Fratzke was transported to the Johnson County Jail and charged with Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor. Friday morning, at his initial appearance, Fratzke pleaded guilty and was fined $250.