At 1:11pm on Wednesday, July 12th, West Burlington Police were dispatched to Harbor Freight, 104 West Agency Road, for theft. Officers were told that the suspect had left in an “older blue Dodge Durango” westbound on Agency Road. He had stolen a welder and a tool bag.
Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office stopped the vehicle as it was exiting Menard’s parking lot and found the stolen goods inside. During the stop, the driver jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, causing a pursuit.
The driver led the officers on a chase until the vehicle came to a stop at West Burlington Avenue and Van Weiss Boulevard after jumping a curb.
However, as the police stopped their car, the driver rammed the passenger side of a West Burlington Police Department car with the officers still inside. The suspect then drove into the car again as the officers were exciting the vehicle, causing around $1500 in damage.
At this point, the driver took off once again, this time heading southbound, until it was involved in an accident at the roundabout at West Burlington Avenue and West Avenue.
The suspect, identified as Tyler Keith Jennings, age 36 of Fort Madison, was observed to be reaching for a gun and point it towards the officers. He was then taken into custody.
Jennings was charged with felony eluding, driving under suspension, 2nd degree criminal mischief, 4th degree theft, failure to provide proof of financial responsibility, and a stop sign violation.