March 29, 2024

Bicycle thief leads police on foot chase

After a short foot chase, a Newton man was arrested for allegedly stealing a bicycle from Walmart on Oct. 18.

Clint T. Nelson, 36, of Newton is charged with third- and fifth-degree theft and interference with officials after police were called to Walmart at 8:34 p.m. in reference to a theft.

A police officer spotted Nelson sitting on a bicycle near a dumpster across the street from Walmart.

Officers asked Nelson where he got the bicycle, and he didn’t answer. When officers asked Nelson to walk to the squad car, he reportedly started running away from police with the bicycle, according to police.

Nelson ran behind the UL warehouse in the 3000 block of First Avenue East. When officers told Nelson to stop, he continued running with the bicycle, according to a police report.

Officers displayed their taser and told Nelson if he didn’t stop he would be tased. Nelson replied that he did not care, the report states.

An officer tased Nelson on his back and he fell to the ground.

Nelson was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

His bond was set at $4,500.

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6513 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com