WATERLOO, Iowa --- Lawrenzo Apollos Harris was just trying to get home.

The 19-year-old was in Cedar Rapids, and home --- Chicago --- was 250 miles away.

He didn't have any money, he would later tell officers, and he was on foot.

As a result of the ensuing journey on Nov. 16, Harris may not find his way home for seven years.

Authorities say he stole a Saturn Ion and led Iowa State Patrol troopers and Black Hawk deputies on a chase that topped 100 mph before he crashed in Waterloo.

Thursday, Harris pleaded guilty part way through his trial after a judge reduced eluding and assault charges to misdemeanors. Only a theft charge remained at the felony level.

"At one point it was over 110 miles per hour, I believe it was 112," Trooper Tyrel Williamson told jurors during the trial last week.

Williamson was headed to Independence for SWAT team training when he heard radio chatter about the high-speed pursuit working its way up Interstate 380 from the Linn County line. He was to the north on U.S. Highway 20 but steered down 380 to head off the chase with a rolling roadblock. The technique involves boxing in a fleeing vehicle, slowing down and forcing the car and driver to the shoulder.

But Williamson said the vehicle was going too fast as it came up behind him, and he abandoned the plan.

"He was going to go right through my vehicle. I pulled over and let him pass," Williamson said.

Deputy Jeremy Jolley pulled onto I-380/Highway 20 at Evansdale and began moving westbound traffic to the side to make way for the coming pursuit. The Ion zipped past Jolley, who then became the lead squad car.

At the I-380/Highway 218 interchange, another patrol car had set up Stop Stick anti-tire devices.

"They are foam triangles inside a bag, and embedded in the triangles are spikes, hollow spikes," Jolley testified.

The Ion ran over the sticks and began to spin out of control, ending up in the grass median.

Jolley's car pulled over to the shoulder near the Ion.

But the Ion began to drive out of the median, and officers said Harris aimed for the squad car's door in attempt to ram it.

Behind Jolley, Williamson was still rolling and saw the Ion. He said he feared the impact would kill or injure the deputy.

"I came alongside the deputy's car," Williamson told jurors. "I pushed it (the Ion) clear of the driver's door."

The Ion missed the door and struck the deputy's front quarter panel.

Harris jumped out and ran, Williamson tackled him in some trees at the bottom of the embankment. When Harris tried to push the trooper away, Williamson struck him in the face.

Williamson told jurors that because he was headed to training, he didn't have his usual duty belt with handcuffs. So he had to punch Harris every time he tried to push away, and that continued until other officers with handcuffs arrived.

At trial, the defense didn't give opening statements or put on any evidence. Public Defender Tomas Rodriguez argued that the charges of felony eluding and assault while participating in a felony weren't warranted because they required another felony to be taking place.

Harris had, in effect gotten away with the Ion after taking it from a Cedar Rapids home, Rodriguez argued. The chase happened after the theft was completed, and officers who began chasing Harris were merely trying to stop him for speeding and didn't know the car was stolen.

Judge David Staudt sided with the defense and lowered the eluding and assault charges to misdemeanors. Harris then pleaded guilty to the second-degree theft, which is a felony, for taking the car, and the two misdemeanors.

Sentencing will be at a later date. Harris faces up to seven years of prison.

Originally posted here:
VIDEO: Anatomy of a high-speed chase