A 22-year-old Davenport man is in custody after the Iowa State Patrol and Davenport Police were involved in a high-speed chase Saturday evening.
Elijah Sanders faces a felony count of failure to affix a drug stamp and a misdemeanor count of aggravated operating under the influence – second offense, according to court records.
Around 7:08 p.m., the Iowa State Patrol attempted a traffic stop on a blue Hyundai Sonata with no license plates in the area of West 15th and Marquette streets, Davenport says, according to arrest affidavits.
Sanders failed to stop for a fully marked patrol car displaying emergency lights and sirens, police said in arrest affidavits. He accelerated at speeds in excess of 25 mph above posted speed limits while eluding law enforcement.
Police allege that Sanders “committed numerous traffic violations while fleeing from law enforcement, including but not limited to: speeding, driving left of center, reckless driving and failure to obey devices of traffic control”. While driving on West Kimberly Road, he jumped the median and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes into oncoming traffic, police said in affidavits.
According to police, Sanders failed to stop at a stop sign at West 15th Street and Washington Street, as well as numerous red lights during the pursuit. During the pursuit, Sanders discharged a semi-automatic handgun from the vehicle in the area of the 1900 block of West Kimberly Road. Officers say the 9mm handgun was recovered.
Officers say that after being read his Miranda rights, Sanders admitted to throwing the firearm away.
At one point, Sanders left the roadway and struck a vehicle. The defendant continued to elude officers and contact was made between Sanders’ vehicle and law enforcement. “The defendant’s vehicle went out of control and struck a Ford F150 in the area of 3700 N. Fairmount St,” police allege in arrest affidavits.
Sanders was arrested at that location. A search of Sanders revealed a clear baggie containing cocaine in his right pants pocket. After being read his Miranda rights, he admitted it was cocaine, according to police.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle due to the odor of marijuana, officers found more cocaine. “The total weight of the two bags exceeded 7 grams. The accused did not affix the appropriate drug tax stamp,” the police allege in affidavits.
“Also located inside the vehicle were several burned marijuana cigarettes and an open bottle of Jose Cuervo under the driver’s seat,” the affidavits state.
Sanders, who is being held in the Scott County Jail on $9,000 cash-only bail, is scheduled for a May 24 preliminary hearing in Scott County Court.
