Busted! Fugitive on the Run for 30 Years Nabbed Over Bike Slip-Up in West Des Moines!
After nearly three decades on the run, a fugitive’s luck ran out when a minor bike mishap exposed his shocking past! 🌐 #News #DesMoinesIA #Iowa #Crime
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – Talk about bad luck! A fugitive who managed to stay off the radar for nearly three decades finally got caught—and it wasn’t some high-stakes operation that did him in. Nope, it was a simple bicycle mishap in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The Bicycle That Led to a Big Break
In late June, West Des Moines Police stopped a man pedaling away without a rear reflector on his bike. Just a routine check, right? Well, it turned into a nightmare for the man who called himself George Stallins.
When the officer tried to run a quick background check, the results were more confusing than helpful. The search didn’t return any records, which set off alarm bells.
The man claimed he had been hit by a car before and had trouble remembering details, hoping that excuse would get him off the hook. But the officer wasn’t buying it.
The Real Identity Shock
Determined to figure out who this mystery cyclist was, the officer ran a second background check. And boy, did it turn up a surprise! It revealed that the name George Stallins belonged to a man who died in 2000.
When officers caught up with the cyclist again, he finally admitted to being George Hartleroad. But this revelation was just the tip of the iceberg.
A Fugitive’s Long Run Comes to an End
A background check on the name Hartleroad showed that he was no small-time offender. This was a man with a warrant out of Wisconsin, wanted for serious crimes like possessing a shotgun/rifle, recklessly endangering safety, and false imprisonment.
But wait, there’s more. State documents unearthed by KCCI revealed that Hartleroad was a convicted rapist who had escaped from a halfway house back in 1995.
So, after nearly 30 years on the run, George Hartleroad’s life as a fugitive came crashing down—all because he didn’t have a reflector on his bike. One tiny infraction led to the capture of a man who had been a ghost for three decades.
Reminder: All parties are considered innocent before proven guilty. Image courtesy: Polk County Jail.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
We value your feedback! Did you find this article informative, inspiring, or thought-provoking? Leave a comment below and join the discussion. We appreciate your opinion and look forward to hearing from you!
