Henry County Sheriff’s Office assists in high speed chase

MT. PLEASANT — Monday, Oct. 2, Henry County Sheriff’s Office assisted Iowa State Patrol in an ongoing pursuit of a stolen vehicle entering Henry County resulting in an arrest.

Authorities arrested Ashley Marissa Sanders, 29, of Chicago with charges of Eluding — speed 25 over limit (aggravated misdemeanor), Theft in the Second Degree (Class D felony), Interference with Official Acts — causing bodily injury (serious misdemeanor), among several other non-scheduled traffic citations by the Iowa State Patrol.

According to the criminal complaint filed with the court, Iowa State Patrol Trooper Daniel Ramiro first observed a Black 2023 Nissan Altima with Illinois plates traveling at 82 miles per hour eastbound on Highway 34 at marker 218 at approximately 6:39 p.m.

When Ramiro caught up with the vehicle, driven by Sanders, and activated his emergency lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, he states “The vehicle went to the right lane of traffic and stopped in the middle of the roadway.”

Despite instructions to pull over to the shoulder, Ramiro states that Sanders instead fled the scene at a high rate of speed. He then received information from dispatch that the vehicle was reported as stolen.

According to the trooper’s affidavit, the pursuit then led authorities down Highway 34, Franklin Avenue, and 170th Street with speeds reaching up to 120 miles per hour in 55 miles per hour speed zones.

According to a news release from Henry County Sheriff’s Department, deputies then successfully deployed Stop Sticks near 170th Street and Iowa Avenue and brought the vehicle to a stop without any injuries to the driver, officers, or the public.

“The vehicle came to a complete stop on Highway 218,” Ramiro states in the criminal complaint. “The driver still had the doors locked and would not open them. The driver had to be assisted out of the vehicle.”

Ramiro states that while he placed Sanders under arrest, he sustained lacerations to his left hand.

Sanders was taken to the Henry County Jail following her arrest. The court imposed a $15,000 cash only bond and set her preliminary hearing for Oct. 13.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com