Iowa man sentenced for running over friend after a fight

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 54 years in prison for running over his friend and firing shots at the victim’s girlfriend on an Iowa interstate last December.

Jayme Powell, 40, was sentenced Friday after being convicted in October of two counts each of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said Powell ran over Richard Polak, of Omaha, while he rode his motorcycle on Interstate 29 near Whiting, Iowa, on Dec. 27, 2020, after the two had a fight earlier that night in Sioux City.

Prior to hitting Polak, Powell shot at Polak’s girlfriend, Jaimi Bucholz, who was driving with a baby in her vehicle, The Sioux City Journal reported.

After hitting Polak, Powell’s pickup became immobilized. He stole a pickup from a nearby farm before crashing into a tree and abandoning it, police said. He stole a second pickup from another residence and was later found driving it in Sioux City, police said.

Polak, 42, suffered numerous injuries and walked with a cane during Friday’s sentencing hearing.