Paullina, Iowa — What began as a traffic stop for speeding led to a high-speed chase and a pair of felony charges against a Paullina man Saturday night.
According to Paullina Police Chief Nate Bremer, he attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Alex Delashmutt for an alleged speeding violation. Bremer said it appeared at first that Delashmutt was pulling over, when he pulled into a drive way, turned around and took off in the opposite direction, with Chief Bremer in hot pursuit. Bremer says that pursuit lasted for approximately ten miles before Delashmutt was able to give him the slip.
According to the Chief, Delashmutt turned up again and the pursuit resumed for about another 10 miles, when Delashmutt was able to elude Chief Bremer for a second time.
By that time officers from four additional agencies had converged on the area and were able to locate Delashmutt again, pursuing him until he entered into a field, finally ending up in a field culvert, according to Bremer. He says Delashmutt attempted to flee on foot, but was chased down and taken into custody by a trooper from the Iowa State Patrol.
Delashmutt was booked into the O’Brien County Jail on two counts of Felony Eluding, along with misdemeanor charges of 2nd Offense OWI, and Driving While Barred, in addition to a litany of traffic citations. He’s scheduled for a Preliminary Hearing on May 12th, according to online court records.
Chief Bremer was assisted in the incident by officers from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Sanborn Police Department, Hartley Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol.
