A Woodward man was arrested Wednesday after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit from Madrid through Granger to Woodward on Iowa Highway 141.
Michael Lawrence Powell, 40, of 201 E. Second St., Woodward, was charged with aggravated eluding–speed more than 25 mph over limit.
The incident began about 4 p.m. in the 100 block of N. Kennedy Avenue in Madrid, where an officer of the Madrid Police Department responded to a report of a man “slumped over the wheel” and “parked at the gas pumps at Casey’s,” according to court records.
When the officer arrived, the “slumped” man, Powell, “exited the vehicle” and began “making several exaggerated movements,” leading the officer to suspect “that the male was under the influence of methamphetamine,” according to court records.
Powell then “jumped back into the driver’s seat and sped out of the parking lot” and onto Iowa Highway 17, “almost striking a vehicle head-on,” according to court records.
A high-speed pursuit continued southbound to Granger on Iowa Highway 17 and then westbound toward Woodward on Iowa Highway 141.
Along with the Madrid Police Department, the chase ultimately engaged the Granger Police Department, Woodward Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s office, Dallas County Sheriff’s office, Polk County Conservation Department and the Iowa Department of Transportation, who together “were able to do a rolling vehicle stop on the vehicle and bring the pursuit to an end with no damage to any vehicles,” according to court records.
Powell was taken into custody without incident, and he “apologized for what he had done immediately and stated that he was scared,” according to court records.
Powell was held in the Boone County Jail prior to his release on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 5 in Boone County District Court.
Powell was arrested Jan. 5, 2020, in Woodward on charges of interference with official acts-serious bodily injury, carrying weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. The case is pending in Dallas County District Court. The Department of Correctional Services has requested that Powell’s pretrial supervision be revoked as a consequence of his arrest for eluding, and an arrest warrant has been ordered.
Powell was convicted of first-offense domestic abuse assault in 1999 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of second-offense domestic abuse assault in 1999 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of domestic abuse assault in 2014 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. He was convicted of third-degree harassment in 2017 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
