O.J. Simpson, the football star and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend in a trial that mesmerized the American public but was found liable in a separate civil case, has died. #ojsimpson #oj #news
WATERLOO — A Waterloo man who wants to be the next Black Hawk County sheriff told police officers he didn’t pull over for a squad car because he didn’t know authorities were trying to stop him.
He also told officers to “F—- off.”
Nihad Masic, 34 – an automobile dealer who is one of two people vying to be the Democratic candidate for Black Hawk County sheriff – was arrested for misdemeanor eluding in connection with a Nov. 8, 2022, traffic stop for a missing license plate.
On Wednesday, a jury found him guilty. The charge carries up to a year in prison, and sentencing will be at a later date.
Masic declined to comment following the verdict.
Defense attorney Lucas Jenson said that Masic wasn’t trying to flee police. He said from the time the squad car’s lights and sirens were on, Masic’s Toyota Corolla simply went to the end of the block, turned a corner onto a lesser traveled street and parked in the driveway of his home. He estimated the distance to be around 500 feet.
“Is that criminal behavior? …. We’re talking 14-15 seconds,” Jenson told jurors during closing arguments.
Jenson also noted that the squad car sirens were initiated while Masic was driving past a fire station driveway, and he questioned the wisdom of pulling over and blocking the station.
Prosecutor Ryan Tang said there was more to it. He noted that Officer Alex Schneider had actually turned on his flashing lights earlier – albeit without the audible siren – so Masic had ample knowledge police were behind him and wanted him to stop.
Under Iowa law, a squad car’s flashing lights and sirens have to be activated before a person can be charged with eluding. Not pulling over for flashing lights alone is covered by a separate offense of failure to yield for an emergency vehicle, which wasn’t charged in Masic’s case.
According to testimony at trial, the Corolla was traveling south on Ansborough Avenue shortly after midnight, and the vehicle changed lanes multiple times after Schneider turned on his flashing lights. Each time the squad car changed lanes to get behind the Corolla, the Corolla switched back to the other lane.
The officer added his siren as they crossed University Avenue, and Masic drove about a block to Downing Avenue where he turned and parked.
For the next several minutes, Masic refused police orders to exit his vehicle and instead questioned why the officer was trying to stop him in the first place. Other officers pulled up, including a police K9 that began barking.
“He’s continuing to argue with the officers and not following the officers’ instructions,” Tang said. He said the delay heightened tensions, and noted that traffic stops are one of the more dangerous parts of police work.
Masic eventually stepped out of the Corolla and told police that he didn’t see the flashing lights at first and was changing lanes to let the squad car go past him.
“I was trying to get out of your way. … I figured you were going somewhere,” Masic can be heard on saying on a bodycam video.
When Sgt. Jordan Ehlers interjected, telling Masic that he should have stopped to see what Schneider wanted, Masic responded “Go away, F—- you, bro.”
Another officer asked Masic why he was so angry.
“Is there a law against anger?” Masic answered.
Masic is also facing a misdemeanor interference charge for not immediately exiting his vehicle in connection with the incident.
A trial is set for May for charges of harassment of a public employee for allegedly giving police a fake name when he was stopped for riding a bicycle at night without a headlight in September. Another May trial is scheduled for an October incident where he allegedly threw a pen after he failed to sign a speeding ticket in Evansdale and then struggled with officers at the jail and allegedly kicked a correctional officer several times, according to court records.
Masic is also charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly twisting a convenience store employee’s wrist during an argument in October.
How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years
How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years
Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980
Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years
Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police
Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets