A man and woman from Wapello County were arrested about midday Thursday after a high-speed chase that began on U.S. Interstate 80 in De Soto and ended with a brief foot pursuit in the parking lot of a West Des Moines grocery store.
Ryan Lawrence Gillen, 28, of 1642 N. Elm St., Ottumwa, was charged with eluding, felony eluding-more than 25 mph over limit, controlled substance violation and numerous traffic violations, including driving while barred, reckless driving, careless driving, three counts of failure to stop in assured clear distance, failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way, failure to obey a traffic control device and others.
Brooklyn Dawn Mattly, 22, of 605 E. Main St., Seymour, was charged with two counts of controlled substance violation, first-offense possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts.
The incident began shortly before noon Thursday on eastbound U.S. Interstate 80 near the 113 mile marker, where officers of the De Soto Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop of Gillen’s 2008 Honda Accord.
Gillen did not stop by attempted to elude law enforcement “while traveling at or above 124 mph,” according to court records. Officers of the Van Meter Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s office and Iowa State Patrol assisted in the pursuit.
Gillen exited the interstate southbound on Grand Prairie Parkway in West Des Moines and then traveled eastbound on Mills Civic Parkway until reaching the parking lot of the Fareway store in the 9000 block, where Mattly exited the vehicle and entered the grocery store.
Mattly “was ordered several times to stop and get on the ground, but kept running,” according to court records. “She finally stopped and complied with commands” from law enforcement officers.
Mattly was allegedly found in possession of a backpack that “contained 27.3 grams of a leafy green substance, marijuana, scales and 95 prescription alprazolam 2 mg and 3 pills of clonazepam 1 mg. There was also scales, torches and baggies in the back pack,” according to court records.
Gillen also bailed from the vehicle in the parking lot of the store but was promptly detained. A search of Gillen allegedly disclosed “a white crystalline substance with a total weight of 34.5 grams” that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court records.
Gillen was held in the Dallas County Jail on a $106,795.01 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 3 in Dallas County District Court.
Gillen was arrested for eluding in 2017 in Ottumwa. The charge was later dismissed in Wapello County District Court. He was arrested for eluding and possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine in 2018 in Batavia, Iowa. The charges were later dismissed in Jefferson County District Court. He was arrested for eluding and possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine in 2018 in Ottumwa. The charges were later dismissed in Wapello County District Court. He was convicted of a controlled substance violation in 2019 in Wapello County District Court.
Mattly is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 2 in Dallas County District Court.
Mattly was arrested for two counts of controlled substance violation, two counts of failure to affix drug stamp and first-offense possession of a controlled substance-marijuana in August 2023 in Ottumwa. The case is pending in Wapello County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
