(Waterloo) On December 15, 2024, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with a death investigation involving a male who died while in the custody of Black Hawk County deputies.
At about 6:55 p.m., deputies with the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office heard radio traffic of a vehicle pursuit initiated by the Waterloo Police Department. The vehicle, a 2011 white Ford Crown Victoria, was reported to be traveling at a high rate of speed over 90 mph while driving northbound in the southbound lanes of travel along Logan Avenue (Highway 63). At one point during the pursuit, the vehicle struck a civilian vehicle and continued to flee from officers. Waterloo police officers terminated the pursuit due to the danger the fleeing vehicle presented within city limits. The fleeing vehicle continued north out of Waterloo.
At about 7:16 p.m., a Black Hawk County deputy observed the same 2011 white Ford Crown Victoria travelling on Cedar Wapsi Road north of Waterloo city limits. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle and again the vehicle refused to stop. Deputies chased the vehicle for approximately nine miles at speeds over 90 mph. Deputies were able to disable the vehicle near the intersection of Highway 63 and Highway 3 when it struck stop sticks that had been deployed by a Bremer County deputy.
The driver, later identified as Willie Earl Washington, 42, of Waterloo, Iowa, was removed from the car by deputies and handcuffed. Washington became unresponsive while handcuffed on the ground. Deputies administered CPR and an ambulance was dispatched, but Washington did not respond and later died. The pursuit and arrest were recorded on several vehicle cameras and officer body worn cameras.
An autopsy is scheduled for December 17, 2024 at the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner. Upon completion, the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Bremer County Attorney’s Office for review.
