Garnavillo Motorcycle Pursuit Warrants

On May 15th, 2025, at approximately 9:12 p.m., a Clayton County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a motorcycle on Highway 18 east of Monona for a speed violation. The motorcycle operator observed the deputy turning around to initiate a stop, and accelerated away at a high rate of speed before the deputy could even attempt the stop. The deputy advised that the motorcycle was last seen heading south on Highway 52. Other deputies clocked the motorcycle at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour as it travelled southbound on Highway 52, but were unable to get the motorcycle to stop. 

A Garnavillo police officer intercepted the motorcycle north of the city and attempted a traffic stop, but the motorcycle passed the officer and continued to elude law enforcement. The pursuit entered the city limits of Garnavillo at speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour in a posted 20 mile per hour speed zone. The Garnavillo Police Department then terminated the pursuit in the interest of public safety. 

The motorcycle was recovered a short time later, having been abandoned by the operator on property which he did not have permission to be on south of Garnavillo. A subsequent search of the area with a K9 did not yield the suspect, and the motorcycle was impounded for processing. 

After a lengthy investigation by the Garnavillo Police Department, multiple pieces of evidence were gathered which produced probable cause to file criminal charges. Justin Wiedner, 37, of Dyersville, IA, has been charged with Eluding, Filing a False Report, Trespass, Reckless Driving, Speed (106 mph in a 55 zone), Unsafe Passing, Driving on the Wrong Side of a Two-Lane Highway, No Valid Driver's License and No Insurance. The false report charge stems from the fact that Wiedner called during the investigation to report his motorcycle as stolen. The investigation determined that this was not true. 

The Garnavillo Police Department was assisted during the pursuit and in the subsequent investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office, Postville Police Department, and the lowa Division of Criminal Investigation Laboratory.