Guilty of Attempted Murder for Driving at Officer

A Northeast Iowa man, charged with attempted murder for driving his car at an Oelwein Police officer, has been found guilty.The trial for 34 year old Abel Quijas Jr. of Maynard wrapped up in Fayette County District Court in West Union. After a few hours of deliberations on Tuesday (May 17), the jury found Quijas guilty of attempted murder.

The incident happened in September of 2014, as authorities were conducting a drug investigation. Oelwein Police and Fayette County Sheriff's officers posed as delivery men, with a package of crystal meth, meant to go to Quijas.

When officers tried to arrest Quijas, he managed to get in his car, and veered toward Oelwein Police officer Jay Tommasin. Authorities fired their service weapons at Quijas, who was wounded, but managed to drive to a rural field, where he fled on foot.

He was caught in Maynard the next day.

Quijas now faces up to 25 years in prison.