MASON CITY – A male juvenile suspect fooled and beat an officer as he was transported through Mason City on his way to a detention center, then stole a vehicle and drove to Des Moines before he crashed and was arrested.
On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at approximately 1:40 AM, Cerro Gordo county deputies responded to the 13000 block of Partridge Avenue on the report of an assault and theft of vehicle. When deputies arrived, they learned that a 17-year-old male from Creston, Iowa, was being transported from the Cerro Gordo County Jail in Mason City to the Central Iowa Detention Center in Eldora, Iowa. The juvenile male had been charged by the Iowa State Patrol with Operating a Motor Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent during the evening hours of June 20th. The juvenile male was in the custody of Central Iowa Juvenile Detention personnel when he complained of a medical problem. The transporting officer pulled over to the side of the road to help the male and at that point the male assaulted and overpowered the officer. The male then left the injured officer on the side of the roadway and drove off with the officer’s vehicle. The officer received numerous non-life threatening injuries and was tranported to Mercy Medical Center North Iowa for treatment of the injuries.
A law enforcement bulletin was broadcast and the juvenile male was spotted driving the stolen vehicle in Polk County, Iowa by the Des Moines Police Department. A vehicle pursuit was initiated by the Des Moines Police Department and the suspect was taken into custody after crashing the stolen vehicle. The suspect was taken to the Polk County Jail where he was being held.
Cerro Gordo County Deputies have filed several charges against the suspect and referred the incident to Juvenile Court Services.
The transporting officer for the Central Iowa Detention Center was treated and released from the hospital.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Mason City Fire Medics and the Des Moines Police Department.