The vehicle pursued by state, county and local law enforcement agencies early Tuesday morning was stolen from the Jefferson Hy-Vee about 9 p.m. Monday and driven in the high-speed chase by Andrew Jensen, 33, of 305 E. Harrison St. in Jefferson, according to law enforcement reports.
The green Ford F250 was spotted at a gas station in Perry about 11:45 p.m. When Perry Police Department Officer Lourdes Clay and Officer Matt Aswegan approached the stolen vehicle, Jensen sped away, driving east on Willis Avenue in excess of 85 miles per hour and then east on Iowa Highway 141.
With law enforcement descending on the chase, Jensen then drove south on U.S. Highway 169. The Dallas County Sheriff’s office set up tire-puncturing stop sticks in the 21000 block of N Avenue (U.S. Highway 169), and the stolen vehicle drove across the sticks, flattened its front tires.
Jensen tried to further elude capture by leaving the disabled vehicle and fleeing across a field. After a brief foot chase, Jensen was taken into custody and later brought to the hospital for medical clearance and then transported to the Dallas County Jail, where he is being held on $20,000 bond.
The incident, according to Perry Police, “safely ended with the use of legal intervention near Iowa Highway 44 and U.S. Highway 169.” No mention was made in official statements by city or county law enforcement about the use of a nightstick or taser.
The Iowa State Patrol was also involved in the high-speed pursuit.
Jensen faces Perry Police Department charges of eluding, fifth-degree theft, driving while revoked and numerous traffic violations. Dallas County charges include possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property and interference with official acts.
Additional charges are pending from the Jefferson Police Department.
Minor damage to two Perry Police Department vehicles was sustained in the pursuit.
“The Perry Police had four tires damaged in the pursuit due to stop sticks,” Perry Police Chief Eric vaughn said Tuesday afternoon. “Luckily, two of those tires were slated to be replaced this week anyway. There was no body damage to the vehicles.”
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