ADEL, Iowa — One suspected credit-card skimmer is in the Dallas County Jail Wednesday night while a second remains hospitalized after allegedly ingesting drugs during the course of an hourlong, high-speed, multi-county chase Tuesday afternoon.
Anthony Jerome Jones, 20, of Georgia and Fredrick Edward Gordon II, 20, of Pahokee, Fla., face multiple charges after the chase on U.S. Interstate 80 that covered about 70 miles and reached speeds of 140 mph.
The chase began about 1:30 p.m. when an Iowa State Patrol Trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Iowa Highway 71 near Atlantic in Cass County. Jones, the driver of the vehicle, did not stop but continued at high speed, eventually driving eastward on U.S. Interstate 80.
The fugitive vehicle left Cass County, crossed Adair County and entered Dallas County, sometimes passing other cars on the shoulder and driving erratically. Dallas County Deputy Sheriffs located the vehicle at the 106 mile marker, Leonard said, after the Iowa State Patrol lost sight of it.
At about the 113 mile marker, an officer of the Van Meter Police Department placed stop sticks on the interstate. Jones swerved and lost control of the vehicle, which entered the median.
When the fugitive vehicle exited the median, a “pit” maneuver was done by a Dallas County Deputy, Leonard said, causing the suspects to go into the median again. Jones continued to drive until another Dallas County patrol car struck Jones’ vehicle, pinning it between him and the cable barrier.
Jones and Gordon were then taken into custody without further incident, and the suspects were taken to a nearby hospital after saying they had ingested narcotics.
“While they were getting chased, they must have ingested a bunch of the controlled substances,” Leonard said.
Jones faces charges in Dallas County of eluding, reckless driving, possession of narcotics, speeding and tinted windows. He is also wanted out of Georgia on a warrant for auto theft.
Gordon is wanted out of Kentucky on seven arrest warrants for fraud, illegal use of credit cards and theft. He will be extradited by Kentucky law enforcement on the warrants, Leonard said.
He said additional charges will be filed by the Iowa State Patrol.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
