By Beacon Staff
A Burlington man allegedly ran over a fire hydrant and a stop sign before crashing into a house at the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Brick Street.
He then backed into a squad car before being arrested by a Des Moines County deputy.
Richard Laurence Thompson, 34, was arrested Monday (Sept. 27) and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, striking fixtures on a highway, and lack of liability insurance.
According to a press release from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed a vehicle traveling at 55 m.p.h. in a 30 mph zone on Sunnyside Ave near Brick Street.
The deputy turned around tried to stop the vehicle when it ran over a stop sign and a fire hydrant. It then crashed into a house at the intersection. The suspect vehicle, a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, then backed into a Des Moines County Sheriff squad car before coming to a stop.
The driver was detained and identified as Thompson, who showed signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking. Thompson was transported to the Des Moines County Jai in Burlington.
At the jail, Thompson was asked to complete a standardized field sobriety testing. Thompson failed those tests and was then offered a preliminary breath test. Thompson consented and gave a breath sample over the legal limit.
Thompson’s bond was set at $1000.00 cash or surety.