Marijuana cigarettes found in truck that hit officer

The North Carolina man who allegedly struck and critically injured a Des Moines police officer outside the Iowa State Fairgrounds faces new charges after investigators said they found the remnants of two marijuana cigarettes in his truck.

Keith Terry, 37, is now charged with possession of marijuana. He was already charged with causing serious injury by motor vehicle and OWI. The new charge brings his bond up to $52,000.

Terry, of Belews Creek, N.C., is accused of striking Des Moines Police Officer Phoukham Tran with an almost 5-ton Ford F-350 pickup truck as Tran directed traffic outside the Iowa State Fairgrounds just before midnight Aug. 19.

According to police reports, investigators didn’t find any skid marks. The truck threw Tran 47 feet across the intersection at East 30th Street and Grand Avenue, police records show.

Authorities weren’t sure whether Terry, who reportedly had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit for driving, had also smoked marijuana the night of the accident.

Tran remains at University of Iowa Hospitals in critical condition. Police said he suffered broken ribs, bleeding in the brain, a punctured lung and other internal injuries. Family members told police the swelling in his brain seems to be decreasing. He’s on a feeding tube and ventilator, though he appears to be breathing on his own. He’s also shown some signs of response by squeezing visitors’ hands.

Lawyers for Terry have asked a judge to consider lowering his bail, arguing he can’t afford to pay the bond amount. Terry and his attorney waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning.