A Council Bluffs man is in custody following the theft of a vehicle that was left running this (Tuesday) morning. Officers were called to the American Inn on S. 24th Street in Council Bluffs, at around 5:35-a.m., for a stolen vehicle report. The vehicle had been left running unattended while the 29-year old male owner was obtaining items from his motel room. With the assistance of Pottawattamie County Communications monitoring the roadways, officers were able to establish an area to search where the vehicle was last seen. An officer located the occupied vehicle in the area of the 300 block of McGee.

Jesse Joseph Poore

The officer watched as the suspect (31-year old Jesse Joseph Poore, of Council Bluffs) exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away. The officer ordered Poore at gunpoint, to stop. The officer then called the man back to his cruiser and to put his hands on the cruiser. Poore initially complied, but when the officer holstered his gun and told Poore to place his hands behind his back so he could handcuff him, Poore refused to comply and then actively resisted. As he struggled with the officer, Poore is alleged to have purposely jabbed his finger into the officer’s eye. He then slipped out of his coat and then ran from the officer.

As the officer chased Poore, the man turned and charged the officer. The officer was able to get Poore on the ground, where he was able to be subdued and placed under arrest with the assistance of another officer who had arrived on scene. Poore faces numerous charges, including:

• Theft 1st (for the stolen vehicle)
• Theft 3rd (for stolen property found in the vehicle)
• Carrying Weapons (for a handgun that was recovered)
• Interference with Official Acts (for actively resisting arrest)
• and, Assault on a Police Officer

The officer who was assaulted was treated for minor injuries. Poore was also treated at the hospital and released before being transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections without further incident. The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to remind everyone: “Don’t make yourself an easy target for thieves. Don’t leave your cars running unattended with the keys in them. It only takes a few seconds for your vehicle to be stolen.”