BURLINGTON – A homeless man battled Iowa cops, took an officer’s taser, and remarkably lived to tell about it.
On Sunday August 7, 2022 at 8:45 PM, officers from the Burlington Police Department responded to the 1400-block of North Roosevelt Avenue in Burlington regarding a male attempting to break into a motor vehicle. Officers located the individual just north of Sunnyside Avenue on Highway 61. The male, later identified as 30-year-old Darwin Orejana, refused to comply with officer’s requests and when officers attempted to detain Orejana he actively resisted. During the struggle with officers, Orejana was able to gain control of one of the officers’ taser. Once Orejana had control of the taser he pointed and attempted to deploy the taser in the direction of the officers. Orejana then fled on foot while still in possession of the taser.
Orejana was subsequently located in the 100-block of Cutter Place where he was taken into custody. An officer did sustain minor injuries during the struggle.
Orejana, homeless person, was charged with:
• Interference with Official Acts with a Weapon
• (2) Counts of Assault with a Weapon Against a Police Officer
• (2) Counts of Disarming a Police Officer (TASER)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Orejana was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and is being held on bond until seen by a judge.
