Adam Sotzen, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been accused of using an American flag to strangle his mother before assaulting her boyfriend, fleeing the scene, and leading police on a high-speed chase, as per a criminal complaint. Johnson County Jail records indicate that Sotzen was taken into custody early Monday morning and faces charges including assault with intent to cause pain or injury, first-degree harassment, operating while intoxicated, and eluding while exceeding the speed limit by 25 mph or more. He is currently being held on a $30,000 bond.
The complaint alleges that Sotzen arrived at his mother’s home in North Liberty in the early hours of Monday, upset over a previous disagreement. The 39-year-old reportedly engaged in a verbal dispute before causing damage to property. Reports from The Daily Iowan suggest that Sotzen pushed his mother to the ground, stole an American flag from a neighboring house, fashioned it into a makeshift rope, and proceeded to strangle her.
Local news outlet KCRG-TV reported that Sotzen repeatedly told his mother, “You need to die.” The complaint further states that even after his mother fell from her chair, Sotzen continued to choke her while she was face down. The victim reportedly told police she feared for her life, believing her son was capable of killing her.
The complaint also details that the victim’s boyfriend intervened, pulling Sotzen off the woman. Sotzen then allegedly turned his aggression towards the boyfriend, punching him in the face and ribcage. After the alleged assault, Sotzen fled the scene in his vehicle before police could arrive.
A police officer identified Sotzen’s vehicle by its license plate following reports of the assault. Despite the officer activating the cruiser’s emergency lights and attempting to stop the suspect, Sotzen allegedly ignored the officer and initiated a high-speed chase while under the influence of alcohol. Police reported that Sotzen drove at speeds of 55 mph in a 30 mph zone during the pursuit.
The complaint states that Sotzen eventually pulled over, exited his vehicle, and surrendered by dropping to his knees in the middle of the road. However, he was described as uncooperative and combative with law enforcement. Authorities noted that Sotzen appeared unsteady and smelled strongly of alcohol. He reportedly continued to display physical aggression while being transported to jail, striking the partition inside the police cruiser. State prison records reveal that Sotzen was previously incarcerated in 2013 for a “serious misdemeanor.”