A convicted rapist fugitive wanted for three decades out of Wisconsin was arrested last month in Iowa.
George Hartleroad was stopped by police for not having a rear reflector on his bicycle.
Initially, Hartleroad provided a fake name to the officers but eventually revealed his true identity.
The encounter between West Des Moines police and Hartleroad on June 26 was captured on newly released body camera footage.
In the video, the officer can be seen growing increasingly confused as he repeatedly runs the fake name and social security number.
Hartleroad told police he was homeless and had been living in Iowa since 1991, but the officer questioned why his identity could not be verified.
Although the officer initially let him go, he found Hartleroad again 30 minutes later. The officer instructed him to remove his hat and glasses for a facial recognition photo.
“I don’t want to arrest you for not having a rear reflector. I stop people to let them know because I don’t want you to get hit, but if I can’t verify who you are and the info you gave me comes back to nobody, that’s a bigger issue,” the officer told Hartleroad.
The officer persisted, asking if Hartleroad had any warrants.
“Time to be honest with me, OK? The info you gave me comes back to a dead guy. Gregory Stallins is dead,” the officer said.
It was revealed that Hartleroad had warrants out of Wisconsin. State records show he is a convicted rapist who escaped from a halfway house in 1995.
Another officer arrived on the scene, and Hartleroad eventually provided his real name.
The police were astonished by this discovery.
“What’s crazy is that 1990, that means you’ve been on the run longer than two of the three officers here on the street have been alive,” the officer remarked.
Hartleroad was taken into custody by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.