Man wrecks vehicle while fleeing repossessor

Jan. 30--A Chicago man escaped injury when he crashed his vehicle on South Hill Wednesday morning after being contacted by a man seeking to repossess his vehicle.

Dale Morrow, 28, was captured by Burlington police near the Maple Hills Apartments after he fled a one-vehicle accident about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Sgt. Chad Zahn, a Burlington police spokesman, said Morrow was charged with not having a valid drivers license, not having proof of insurance and leaving the scene of an accident.

A spokesman for the Des Moines County Sheriff's Department said Morrow was released from the county jail after posting a $900 bond.

Zahn said the incident began when a resident reported seeing Morrow drive east on Elm Street at a high rate of speed.

"He was fleeing from a repossessor and attempted to turn south onto Sixth Street from Elm Street when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree on the southeast corner of Sixth and Elm streets," Zahn said. "He ended up stopping his (SUV) at Fifth and Maple Streets, then fled his vehicle on foot."

Zahn said patrol officers found Morrow a short time later outside the Maple Hills Apartments, 420 S. Fourth St. Morrow did not resist arrest, he added.

Patrol officers were still finishing their investigation, Zahn said Wednesday afternoon. He said he couldn't say if the repossessor was chasing Morrow at the time of the accident or simply contacted Morrow about repossessing the vehicle when the man decided to flee.

Morrow's court date has not been announced, court officials said Wednesday.

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