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Man arrested after running naked through downtown Des Moines, hijacking car, police say
José MendiolaDes Moines Register
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1:03
A man was arrested after allegedly running naked through the streets of downtown Des Moines and hijacking a car early Tuesday.
The man, who was taken to the Polk County Jail, was reported to be running naked on Court Avenue around 3:30 a.m., police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek told the Des Moines Register.
A video circulated on social media shows the nude man running back and forth on the streets of downtown while women shout in the background. The man stops for a moment on a sidewalk, then runs across the street toward a parked car with the driver’s door opened.
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A man in the driver’s seat appears to be confused as the naked man leaps over him into the passenger seat. The driver then gets out of the car while the naked man jumps into the driver’s seat.
The suspect appears to attempt to shut the door, but the driver is in the way. The driver then punches him in the face.
The suspect appears to plead with the driver, who again punches him in the face, the video shows. The suspect puts the car in reverse and backs away at a high speed, briefly dragging the other man, who is in the way of the still-open door.
The video then shows the suspect speeding off while the tires of the car squeal and spectators shout.
The victim suffered minor injuries, Parizek said. Police later found the suspect with the car, which had crashed into a tree near East Sixth Street and Court Avenue.
The suspect was charged with second-degree theft and driving with a suspended license, according to court documents.
José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.
Let a naked dude steal your car with you in it, brehs.
