A Jefferson man has been charged with attempted murder after being apprehended in a garage on S. Mulberry St 10 hours after he was seen firing a long gun at a passing vehicle on N. Cedar St.
Zachary A. Waters-Rice, 25, of Jefferson is charged with four felonies and six misdemeanors after leading law enforcement on a chase through Greene County and finally being apprehended several hours later.
According to information from the Jefferson police department, a complainant reported at 8:09 Monday evening witnessing a male on a bicycle shooting a long gun at a passing vehicle. Several other witnesses corroborated the event, as well as the driver of the vehicle. There was no damage to the vehicle. Officers began searching for the male suspect, who was known to them.
Tuesday at 2:49 am a complainant reported his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado had been stolen from 1200 S. Mulberry St within the past few minutes. The complainant told officers there were several firearms in the pickup truck. Officers entered the truck into the NCIC system as stolen and began searching for the vehicle. They suspected the same individual who had shot at the passing motorist had taken it.
An officer located the pickup in the 100 block of N. Chestnut St at 3:13 am. The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop but the driver fled. The officer pursued the driver on city streets, south out of the city limits on S. Grimmell Rd. The pursuit continued on gravel roads. The officer lost sight of the driver in southern Greene County. A Greene County sheriff’s deputy assisted in the pursuit.
At 3:14 am a complainant had reported a known male had gone to her residence in the 500 block of S. Chestnut St and pointed a handgun at another person there. The officer responded to that call after losing the fleeing driver. The complainant provided the officer with video of the event, which showed Waters-Rice, the alleged suspect in the chase, committing the crime. The search began anew.
At 6:31 am the officer saw the reported stolen vehicle back on S. Mulberry St. Officers, deputies, and an Iowa State Patrol trooper surrounded the property. The suspect’s cellular phone was still pinging at the address.
A team of officers and deputies approached the stolen vehicle, clearing buildings along the way. The team entered the garage and found Waters-Rice inside. He was taken into custody at 6:59 am. Four loaded firearms were found in the vehicle, which was returned to the owner.
Zachary A. Waters-Rice, 25, of Jefferson has been charged with attempted murder (Class B felony), going armed with intent (Class D felony), control of a firearm by a domestic abuser (Class D felony), burglary- third degree (Class D felony), use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime (aggravated misdemeanor), operating without owner’s consent (aggravated misdemeanor), eluding (aggravated misdemeanor), possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor), manner of conveyance/loaded gun (simple misdemeanor), and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*.
He was also cited for driving while license suspended, failure to obey stop sign (six citations), excessive speed, reckless driving, and unsafe passing.
Note: All charges are merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
