Public's Help Sought in Finding Man Who Fled Police

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Aug 7, 2012 at 2:59 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 7, 2012 at 3:43 PM CDT

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Cedar Falls police are asking the public’s help in finding an Evansdale man who ran from officers on Sunday.

Tips leading to his capture could result in a reward through Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers.

Austin Mitchell Johnson, 18, is wanted for failing to return to the Waterloo Residential Facility and for new charges of interference with official acts causing serious injury in connection with the weekend foot chase.

Cedar Falls officers were called to the Clarion Inn parking lot Sunday morning when a man complained someone was sleeping in his vehicle

Police approached Johnson and were checking his information through the dispatch center when he ran off.

They chased him east towards Waterloo Road, and an officer jumped from a 3- or 4-foot-tall retaining wall and injured his knee and shoulder when he landed.

The officer was taken to Sartori Hospital by ambulance for treatment of his injuries. He was later released and remains on medical leave.

Johnson is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He has blue eyes and red hair.

Johnson was last seen with long, “bushy” hair and has numerous tattoos on his arms and abdomen, including dice, musical notes, a mircrophone and lips with a tongue sticking out.

Anyone seeing Johnson or with information on his whereabouts are asked to call Black Hawk County Dispatch at 319) (291-2515 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-855-300-TIPS (8477).