High speed chase through Des Moines ends with suspect in custody

DES MOINES, Iowa— Police say a high-speed chase through the streets of Des Moines on Friday ended with a suspect wanted on a felony warrant in custody.

“I saw a lot of lights behind me on Fleur, so I took it on the right side,” said Tito Hunter. “And zoom past me- I would say at least 15 vehicles.”

Those vehicles were made up of Des Moines Police and Iowa State Patrol Troopers who were in pursuit of a Blue Chevrolet Avalanche with a white male behind the wheel.

Hunter was on his way home from work and shared video he took of the incident with WHO-13. He said he believed it may have started after a traffic stop around 3:30 Friday afternoon. The suspect allegedly refused to surrender and raced his speeding pick-up across the city from MLK Jr. Parkway, past the airport, and eventually off the road in Warren County.

“I was in my living room and I felt the whole house shake,” Grant Sodders told reporter Katie Kaplan. “I thought it was a semi speeding.”

Sodders shared his own video of what appeared to be the same vehicle as it sped by his home on Bell Avenue. At least three police cruisers trailed quickly behind.

He estimated the vehicle was traveling at least 50 miles per hour in a 30 miles per hour zone and said the Spring Break holiday was the only reason Bell Avenue was not more crowded with traffic.

“Usually, the school busses are running around that time too, but thankfully, Des Moines has been out of school for Spring Break,” Sodders said. “So, while he was tearing down that street, you know, no one else was in any more danger.”

A third video taken by Brian Green showed the Chevy cross into oncoming lanes with officers not far behind.

“Oh my Gosh! I have never seen that happen in real life before,” he can be heard yelling in the background.

Green, who works for The Tree Service, LLC, told WHO-13 he was heading to a job site when he noticed the truck speeding toward him. It was just a few yards away when it crossed the median behind his own truck.

The chase eventually extended into Warren County where the suspect allegedly ran off the road near the Echo Valley Golf Course. The extent of damage to the course was not immediately known. Police said they were working with the business on determining a damage estimate. WHO-13 reached out to the course for a statement but has not yet heard back.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody around 4:30p.m. east of Norwalk. His identity was not immediately released, but the man had a felony warrant out for his arrest and police were still working on the case reports late into Friday night, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek. The agency expected to have more information available Saturday morning.

While it was a shocking experience to encounter the pursuit, Hunter said he was impressed by the police response.

“I appreciate how they reacted. That gave you reassurance for, you know, how your local police will be responding when you need them,” he said. “I hope he’s not going to get out anytime soon.”

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