Rock Valley, Iowa — A Rock Valley man faces a litany of charges after an incident a few minutes before midnight Saturday night in Rock Valley.
According to Rock Valley Police Chief Monte Warburton, 20-year old Michael Wayne VanEssen, Jr. refused to stop when a Rock Valley police officer attempted to pull him over for speeding, and Insufficient Number of Headlamps.
According to Warburton, when VanEssen, Jr. failed to pull over the officer began pursuing his vehicle. Warburton says the pursuit ended at 2720 300th Street, which is just east of Rock Valley, when, according to Warburton, VanEssen, Jr. abandoned his car and fled on foot into a corn field.
A short time later he was located at a house in Rock Valley and placed under arrest, according to Chief Warburton. He says VanEssen, Jr. resisted arrest before being handcuffed. The Chief went on to say that, while in handcuffs, Van Essen, Jr. managed to escape from police, and run off while still wearing the officer’s handcuffs.
Warburton says VanEssen, Jr. was located around 4:45 Sunday morning, and re-arrested.
According to Chief Warburton, VanEssen Jr. is charged with: Driving While Barred; Eluding; Escape From Custody; two count of Interference with Official Acts; two counts of Speeding; two counts of Failure To Obey a Stop Sign/Yield Right Of Way; Possession of Alcohol Under Legal Age; Driving on the Wrong Side of a 2-Way Highway; and Insufficient Number of Headlamps. In addition, Warburton says he was charged with 5th Degree Theft for the handcuffs he was wearing when he fled from custody.
Chief Warburton says the charges against VanEssen, Jr. range from Simple Misdemeanors to Aggravated Misdemeanors.
Warburton says the Rock Valley Police Department was assisted by the Sioux Center Police Department, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, and Rock Valley Fire Department.
