The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Police locate escapee

An Iowa City man was charged after allegedly speeding under the influence of alcohol with a revoked driver’s license and escaping from police custody.

Pedro Gemartino, 21, was charged May 30 with OWI, driving while barred, and the escape of a felon. It was Gemartino’s third OWI charge.

According to a Coralville police complaint, Gemartino had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol when he was pulled over for speeding at 2:06 a.m. A preliminary breath test showed his blood-alcohol content was .172, according to the complaint, and he refused the DataMaster breath test.

At 4:40 a.m., Gemartino fled the police when he was allowed to walk from the squad car to the receiving door of the jail, according to the complaint. He had slipped the handcuffs off of his right wrist, the complaint said, and was not located when police officials set up a perimeter and searched the area.

He had two prior OWI convictions, on June 22, 2011, and Feb. 2, 2012, according to the complaint.

Escaping from police custody is a felony; driving while barred is an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to Johnson County sheriff’s records, Gemartino was booked Wednesday and is housed in the Johnson County Jail.

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