A Fort Madison man was arrested on Friday following a high-speed chase through Burlington that ended in a single-car crash in Gulfport, Ill.
Dillon Rasch, 32, was arrested and charged with eluding (class C felony), driving while barred (aggravated misdemeanor) and for outstanding warrants for parole violation, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and reckless use of a firearm.
On Friday, detectives with the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Burlington Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, US Marshall’s Service, and FBI were conducting surveillance in Burlington in reference to a Rasch for his outstanding warrants.
At around 1:15 p.m., detectives observed a blue Dodge pickup truck leave the area of Vine Street and 6th Street and later located the vehicle, which attempted to elude detectives, according to a criminal complaint.
The truck turned northbound on 4th and Division streets, began to pick up speed, failed to stop for numerous stop signs, and then proceeded towards the Great River Bridge towards Illinois, the complaint states.
As police were pursuing Rasch on the Great River Bridge, the truck was traveling at speeds over 90 mph in a posted 55-mph zone before making a U-turn through a median and beginning to drive west back towards the Great River Bridge on Highway 34, according to the complaint.
The truck then went through a ditch in Gulfport and crashed.
Police found Rasch trying to hide in the ditch and was taken to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center by Burlington Ambulance for minor injuries he sustained. A Des Moines County detective also sustained minor injuries while attempting to take Rasch into custody. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in making the arrest.
Rasch is being held at the Des Moines County Jail on $66,000 cash-only bond.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 10 at the Des Moines County Courthouse.
