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Iowa man charged in fatal crash, bail jumping found
Chad M Ernzen
Chad Ernzen

TAMPA, Florida – According to the Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, Chad Ernzen, 38, of Dubuque, Iowa was taken into custody in Tampa, Florida at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. A Lafayette County Sheriff’s Deputy reached out to the Tampa Police Department and was informed that Ernzen was taken into custody as the result of a case that they were handling that occurred at Busch Gardens.
“Ernzen is being held there on our felony warrants and now the legal process will take place that will allow for his transport back to Lafayette County to appear in court,” Gill stated.
Ernzen was charged with Homicide by Vehicle – Use of a Controlled Substance and 2nd Degree Reckless Homicide from a crash that happened in December 2015 on Hwy 81. As a result from the crash, Rosette King, 87, was killed after authorities say Ernzen crossed the centerline and hit her vehicle head-on. In October 2016, Ernzen pled not guilty to those charges. He failed to show up to court for his January hearing.