High-speed chase through Mt. Pleasant ends in cornfield arrest

MT. PLEASANT — A Mt. Pleasant man faces multiple charges after leading deputies on a high-speed chase through the county and into a cornfield Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 22, according to court records.

Deputy Scott Bell of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a 2007 Chevy Impala near East Monroe Street and North Grand Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. Oct. 22. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Victor Wenke, hit the curb and accelerated east instead of stopping, the criminal complaint states.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph in a 35 mph zone as Wenke swerved around traffic and ”nearly collided with other vehicles on the road and my patrol car,” Bell wrote in a statement. “Victor's vehicle and mine nearly collided broadside (T-bone) as Victor passed in front of me. Victor and I looked at each other and I saw Victor mouth something in my direction before continuing to flee.”

According to Bell’s account, Wenke continued west past other marked law enforcement vehicles.

“The fleeing vehicle ignored those other fully marked patrol cars and turned south into the grass area next to South Grand Avenue,” Bell’s statement claims. “The vehicle eventually returned to the pavement of South Grand Avenue and swerved around other vehicles on the road at a high rate of speed.”

The vehicle continued west on Harvest street, south on Iowa Avenue, west on 265th Street and into the Oakland Mills campground, according to reports.

Deputies said Wenke abandoned the still-running car and fled on foot into a corn field. A K-9 unit tracked him through the field, where deputies took him into custody.

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Investigators said a K-9 also detected the odor of narcotics coming from Wenke’s vehicle. Deputies found a smoking device in a coat pocket on the driver’s seat and determined Wenke was required to have an ignition-interlock device installed but did not.

Wenke faces charges of operating without interlock, possession of drug paraphernalia, and interference with official acts — all simple misdemeanors — as well as driving while license denied or revoked, a serious misdemeanor, and eluding, second or subsequent violation, an aggravated misdemeanor. He also received a citation for an open-container violation.

No injuries were reported during the pursuit or arrest.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com