Henry County K-9 assists in pursuit

WAPELLO — Henry County’s K-9 Officer Axel and handler Deputy Scott Bell assisted Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol in pursuit of and arrest of a suspect charged with a Class D felony, multiple serious misdemeanors, and many traffic violations.

According to a news release from the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol began an active pursuit of a suspect on southbound Highway 61 near County Road G56 for multiple infractions around 9:45 a.m., Jan. 29.

After authorities initially tried to pull over the vehicle for speeding, “The vehicle accelerated and was passing cars in the fog,” the criminal complaint filed with the courts states. “The vehicle also passed a vehicle on the shoulder of the road or the right side of the vehicle.”

Once in Wapello city limits, the criminal complaint states that the vehicle drove 120 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone and 113 mph in a 35 mph zone.

“The vehicle passed in a no passing zone in Wapello and continued southbound on 61 south of Wapello,” the complaint states. “The vehicle was doing 108 M.P.H. in a 55 M.P.H. zone south of Wapello.”

According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, “The suspect vehicle would continue at speeds well over 100 miles per hour and drive recklessly. The small SUV would then attempt to pass on the shoulder near Newport Junction. The vehicle would lose control, wreck and rollover in the shoulder. Two suspects would immediately flee on foot, one suspect was taken into custody a short distance away after attempting to hide behind a semi.”

While Tevin Marion, 29, of Fort Madison, was taken into custody shortly after the vehicle rolled over into the ditch, another fled on foot, without shoes, to the west of the accident and disappeared into the timberline.

With the other suspect, later identified as Brian Smith, 30, of Florida, at-large, Bell and Axel were called in to assist alongside the Columbus Junction Police Department, Louisa County Emergency Management Agency, Wapello Ambulance, Wapello Fire and Rescue, and the Winfield Police Department.

After approximately four hours and a three-mile trek, authorities spotted Smith, thanks to the work of dispatchers, K-9 units, drones, bystanders, and multiple agencies working together.

According to the Henry County K-9 unit, “it was a team effort between Louisa County K-9 Drake and K-9 Axel to locate the suspect. The suspect was located and taken into custody following the track.”

“Both arrested parties were provided medical care and transported to the Louisa County Jail where the Iowa State Patrol have charged them with Felony Eluding upon many other traffic violations, they both remain on $5,000 cash only local bonds and both have outstanding felony warrants in other counties for locally committed burglaries,” Louisa County Sheriff’s Office states.

According to court documents, neither suspect admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the pursuit, but both are held with charges for Eluding, a Class D felony, leaving the scene of an accident, serious misdemeanor, interference with official acts, serious misdemeanor and numerous traffic violations.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com