Early Wednesday, police were led on a chase through Coralville by an Iowa City man.
An Iowa City man stole two different cabs in Coralville and then led police on a chase.
According to a police report, 21-year-old Bruce Steven Austin Jr. held two cab drivers at gunpoint and stole their vehicles. He called for a cab to pick him up, then pulled a gun on the driver, demanding his money and phone. The cab driver fled.
Not long after that, Austin robbed yet another cab driver, stealing his car as well. Police found the cab and attempted to stop it, but Austin did not stop. The chase ensued.
Officers were forced to deploy stop sticks.Austin was finally apprehended after police blew out his tires with the stop sticks and he rammed the second stolen taxi cab into a squad car coming around a corner, according to the reports.
Austin was immediately taken into custody. The weapon was apprehended as well. Relatives confirmed that Austin had called for the cab. It was discovered that he already had a warrant out in Cedar County as well.
Nobody was injured during the incident, and the squad car that was hit only had minor damage.
Austin faces charges of first degree robbery and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent in Iowa City and first degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and eluding in Coralville.
He currently remains lodged in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of a $213,500 bond.
An Iowa City man stole two different cabs in Coralville and then led police on a chase.
According to a police report, 21-year-old Bruce Steven Austin Jr. held two cab drivers at gunpoint and stole their vehicles. He called for a cab to pick him up, then pulled a gun on the driver, demanding his money and phone. The cab driver fled.
Not long after that, Austin robbed yet another cab driver, stealing his car as well. Police found the cab and attempted to stop it, but Austin did not stop. The chase ensued.
Officers were forced to deploy stop sticks.Austin was finally apprehended after police blew out his tires with the stop sticks and he rammed the second stolen taxi cab into a squad car coming around a corner, according to the reports.
Austin was immediately taken into custody. The weapon was apprehended as well. Relatives confirmed that Austin had called for the cab. It was discovered that he already had a warrant out in Cedar County as well.
Nobody was injured during the incident, and the squad car that was hit only had minor damage.
Austin faces charges of first degree robbery and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent in Iowa City and first degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and eluding in Coralville.
He currently remains lodged in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of a $213,500 bond.
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