Waukee Police Start Late-Night Car Chase and Johnston Police End It
A Des Moines man is in the Dallas County Jail on charges of eluding police. Police say he led cops on chase through parts of Waukee, Urbandale and Johnston Sunday night.
A Des Moines man is in jail after a high-speed chase that led police through Waukee, Des Moines, Urbandale and even Johnston, Sunday night.
Around 11 p.m., an officer with the Waukee Police Department saw a minivan westbound in the 1400 block of Southeast University Avenue traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic.
The officer saw the vehicle run a red light at Southeast University Avenue and Boone Drive and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver, Charles Edward Brown, 33, of Des Moines, allegedly drove off.
Brown eventually led police through Waukee and parts of Des Moines at speeds as high as 90 miles per hour before officers from the Johnston Police Department were able to stop the vehicle with stop sticks in the 4800 block of Merle Hay Road. Brown swerved off the road, coming to a stop on a nearby frontage road.
At that time, Brown surrendered to law enforcement. He suffered several minor cuts but refused medical treatment. He was taken to the Dallas County Jail and booked for eluding, driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Agencies assisting in the chase and subsequent arrest includes the Iowa State Patrol, Des Moines Police, Johnston Police, Polk County Sheriff's office, Urbandale and Waukee Police Departments.
Brad Boustead
3:38 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Police chasing a minivan? Come on Jody, does this really qualify as a breaking news alert? At least tell us why the guy was running.
Jody Gifford
3:54 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Thanks for your comment, Brad. It was posted as breaking news because, until this afternoon, the only details available were vague. Waukee police released a statement on the chase this afternoon.
If I had to make a guess on why he was running, I would say it was either because he had a suspended license or because he was in possession of drug paraphernalia, both things noted in the story.