Carjacking suspect accused of firing gun at officers during chase with speeds up to 150+

LINN COUNTY, Iowa – An Alabama man is behind bars in Iowa after allegedly firing a gun at officers during a high-speed chase in Linn County.

Samuel Reese, 32, of Center Point, Alabama, is facing numerous charges including three counts of Attempted Murder of Officer, a Class B Felony, and five counts of Assaulting a Police Officer, a Class C Felony, and two counts of Intimidation with Dangerous Weapon, a Class C Felony.

Reese is also charged with Interference with Official Acts with Firearm, Eluding at 25 Over Limit, and Assault while Committing Felony, all of which are a Class D Felony.

Allegations.

The accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

On Dec. 31, police say they were trying to locate a stolen 2024 Dodge Durango that had allegedly been carjacked out of the Cedar Falls area, affidavits show.

A deputy with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle on southbound I-380 just north of County Home Rd and a traffic stop was initiated, but the driver did not stop, affidavits show.

The deputy reported the driver had rapidly accelerated and investigators say crash data from the vehicle showed the driver reached speeds of 153 mph.

The deputy reported the driver had exited County Home Rd, briefly traveled westbound, did a U-turn, drove by the deputy and then re-entered the I-380 southbound ramp where he allegedly stuck his arm out the window and fired a gun directly at the deputy, affidavits show.

The driver continued traveling southbound before crashing into a medium just south of Tower Terrace Rd, affidavits show.

After crashing the vehicle, police say the driver got out and fired more rounds directly at the deputy, who was still in his squad car, before running across northbound traffic toward Kettelsen Dr. in Hiawatha.

While near a radio tower on Kettelsen Dr., the driver raised, pointed and fired a rifle directly at officers multiple times as officers with Cedar Rapids Police responded to the scene, affidavits show.

A Cedar Rapids officer fired upon the driver, striking him in the face causing him to fall down allowing officers to approach and take him into custody, affidavits show.

What’s next?

On Jan. 7, Reese appeared in court where a judge found sufficient probable cause to proceed with the case.

Reese will remain in custody at the Linn County Correctional Center on a $2 million cash only bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 16 at 8:30 a.m.

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