Edited release
07/23/24
The Iowa State Patrol and Cedar Rapids Police were able to apprehend a motorcyclist who eluded police Friday night.
According to a release from the CRPD, the incident occurred beginning at approximately 8:50 pm. Cedar Rapids Police officers attempted to stop a motorcycle in the 300 block of 1st Ave W. The driver of the motorcycle refused to stop and accelerated away at a very high rate of speed. The driver continued eluding officers at speeds over 100mph and traveled to southbound I-380.
The motorcyclist was spotted by an Iowa State Patrol aerial unit, and CRPD patrol units discontinued the vehicle pursuit. The driver then exited and traveled west on HWY 30, continuing to drive recklessly without police chasing him. His speeds reached closed to 130mph on Highway 30. The driver weaved through traffic and at times, passing vehicles on the shoulders of the roadway.
The aircraft continued to track the motorcycle as it exited and continued to drive at reckless speeds, failing to stop at intersections and unsafely passing vehicles. When the driver reached the outskirts of the City limits, Cedar Rapids Police re-initiated the pursuit and the driver eventually came to a stop near 16th Ave and 80th St SW. The driver was identified as 19-year-old Cade Thorstenson. He was charged with two charges of Eluding and 21 other traffic citations.
Due to the joint efforts of Cedar Rapids Police and the State Patrol aerial unit, 33 citations, six warning and three arrests were issued Friday night.