(Rock Valley)– A Rock Valley man faces an attempted murder charge after police say he intentionally struck an officer with a pickup and led them on a pursuit Wednesday evening.
Rock Valley police say 47-year-old Iram Jesus Rodriguez drove into a parking lot adjacent to the police department around 6:30 pm Wednesday where two officers were on foot speaking with another person. Police say Rodriguez briefly spoke with the officers and one recognized him and knew he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. A press release says Rodriguez refused orders to stop, then drove a pickup at the officer, intentionally striking him. Police say Rodriguez then fled and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at officers. A pursuit of Rodriguez then ensued.
The pickup he was driving made contact with a pursuing officer’s vehicle. An attempt to stop Rodriguez with stop sticks was unsuccessful, and the pursuit continued into Rock Valley where he was eventually stopped and taken into custody.
Rodriguez was charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, a class B felony, and eluding, a class D felony, along with multiple traffic offenses.
The officer that was struck by the pickup was treated at a hospital and released.
A Rock Valley Police K9 unit and a Sioux Center Police car each sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage during the pursuit, that involved six law enforcement agencies and the Iowa State Patrol.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting’s Sioux County Radio)
