Newton man arrested after attempting to flee from police twice

A 38-year-old Newton man was taken into custody Aug. 19 after attempting to run from uniformed officers placing him under arrest.

According to police reports, Christopher L. Cleveland was wanted on fifth-degree theft charge from an incident in July. When officers located Cleveland at 6:18 p.m. Aug. 19 in the 1400 block of First Avenue East, they knew of the active warrant. When told to stop in front of the patrol car, Cleveland denied having a warrant for his arrest. The NPD confirmed the arrest warrant was valid with Jasper County Dispatch.

Cleveland did not comply with the officer’s requests and began walking westbound along First Avenue, according to the report. Officers commanded him to stop when Cleveland began to run from the scene. Police chased him, continue to tell Cleveland to stop. He was apprehended in the 1300 block if First Avenue East. He was charged with Interference with Official Acts.

The arrest warrant stemmed from a July 30 incident at Hy-Vee. Officers were called to the store around 9 p.m. about a report of a male shoplifter who had taken two bottles of alcohol and exited the store without paying for it.

Officers spoke to employees who described a male in a black shirt with a floral design on it. The report said the male could be found in the parking lot of the next door car wash with another person on a bicycle wearing a backpack.

As officers approached, the male, later identified as Cleveland, began to flee on the bicycle leaving the other subject with the backpack. The NPD pursued Cleveland and were able to stop him in the Walgreen parking lot. Backup officers were unable to locate the other subject.

Officers questioned Cleveland about the shoplifting incident but told them he had not been in Hy-Vee that night. He was arrested on public intoxication charge and taken to jail.

Upon further investigation, the NPD was able to view video surveillance footage which identified Cleveland in the store with the same clothing from the date of the incident. He was seen taking two bottles of Crown Royal valued at $57.86. When an employee attempted to stop him from exciting the store, they stated the police would be called. Cleveland responded by saying, “ Go ahead.”

Cleveland pled not guilty at his initial appearance. His pre-trial conference had been set for 9 a.m. Sept. 17.

Contact Pam Pratt at
641-792-3121 ext. 6530
or pampratt@newtondailynews.com