UFC fighter arrested after high speed chase
Last Updated on Friday, 2 January 2009 11:45
Written by admin
Friday, 2 January 2009 11:45

as seen on DesMoinesRegister.com
Drunken revelers kept metro area police scrambling on New Year’s Eve, including an allegedly intoxicated professional “ultimate fighter” who caused a car crash in downtown Des Moines then took off at speeds topping 100 mph.
Joshua Martin Neer, a 25-year-old Iowan who is competing in Tampa next month in an Ultimate Fighting Championship, was charged with a felony after leading police on a 20-mile chase that ended on Interstate 80.
Police records show Neer was one of more than 50 people arrested on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the metro area.
Just after midnight, a squad car on routine patrol was stopped for a red light on Court Avenue when the car behind rear-ended it, according to a written report. The woman told police her car was also struck from behind.
The 25-year-old male driver in the third car, a black Audi Quattro, then pulled out, crossed into oncoming traffic on Court Avenue, and turned north on Fourth Street, the police report stated.
Police chased the Audi 20 miles.
At Sixth and Euclid avenues, the officer attempted a stop the fleeing car by hitting the back right quarter panel with the front left side of the squad car, a technique known as a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver.
The Audi spun around but the driver regained control and continued west on Euclid Avenue.
Des Moines police continued the chase as the Audi traveled into Urbandale, then onto Interstate Highway 80 eastbound. The Audi reached speeds in excess of 100 mph in a 65 mph zone, the police report says.
The chase ended at mile marker 137.
Police charged Neer, of 3535 Jersey Ridge Road No. 312 in Davenport, with felony eluding and second-offense operating while intoxicated shortly after 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, records show.
No one was killed or seriously injured in drinking-related incidents on New Year’s Eve or the wee hours of New Year’s Day, Des Moines Police Sgt. Jeffrey Phillips said today.
About 25 people were arrested specificially on intoxication-related charges, and more were getting picked up and jailed in the morning.
“They’re just coming to and trying to find out how to get home,” Phillips said.
In Des Moines during a 32-hour period ending at 8:30 a.m. today, a total of 58 people were arrested for various charges, including public indecent exposure, domestic assault, interference with official acts and drunk driving.
Clive police made three drunk driving arrests and a couple disorderly conduct arrests. Urbandale police arrested a man for public intoxication after he was seen stumbling down the street this morning, police said.
In 2009 UFC gets more street cred than Rap Music.
- Miles Cyrus
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