IC man accused of trading stolen mopeds for meth

Lang
7/1/123

Iowa City Police say a suspect in a series of attempted moped thefts earlier this week was planning to trade them for meth.

35-year-old Rashaud Lee of Hollywood Boulevard was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 9:00 Friday night…his second stint in the jail this week.

University of Iowa Police say Tuesday morning Lee tried to hotwire a moped parked outside Van Allen Hall on North Dubuque Street and two at the Court Street Transportation Center. He reportedly fled from the parking ramp immediately after successfully starting one of the vehicles. Police say Lee left behind a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine, as well as a glass pipe.

Lee allegedly admitted to trying to steal the three mopeds with the intent of driving one home. He was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 2:15 Tuesday afternoon and charged with three counts of 2nd Degree Theft and one count each of Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Iowa City Police now say they stopped a stolen motorcycle being driven by Lee at the Town & Campus Apartments on Arthur Street just before 8:45pm on June 12th. He reportedly showed signs of impairment and admitted to using meth. Investigators say a blood draw came back positive for meth and THC. Lee allegedly admitted to stealing mopeds and motorcycles and trading them for meth. Police say a post-arrest search of Lee’s person turned up meth.

Lee now faces additional charges of 2nd Degree Theft, Operating While Intoxicated – 3rd or Subsequent Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or Subsequent Offense, Driving While Barred, and Driving While Revoked. If convicted on all charges from both incidents, Lee faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.