Driver With 3 Felony Warrants Racks Up 8 Additional Felony Charges After Car Chase

Spencer, Iowa — What began as a simple traffic stop early Thursday morning turned into a pursuit, with the fleeing vehicle crashing into a parked car, and the driver fleeing on foot.

According to Spencer Police Chief Mark Warburton, the incident began around 2:15 Thursday morning when a Spencer Police Officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a car the officer observed driving erratically near the Spencer Golf & Country Club. Warburton says the car failed to stop, and led the officer on a pursuit which came to a conclusion when the car being pursued crashed into a parked vehicle on West 4th Street in Spencer.

The driver, who Warburton says was later identified as 25-year old Justin Michael Albright of Sioux City, fled the scene and was later located by homeowners hiding in a garage at 205 12th Avenue West in Spencer, but by the time law enforcement arrived at that address, Albright had reportedly fled.

According to Chief Warburton, a female passenger in Albright’s vehicle was taken to the Spencer Hospital, where she was treated and released.

About 9:45 Thursday morning, Chief Warburton says Albright was taken into custody in the 1200 block of W. 7th St in Spencer.  Law Enforcement converged on the area after a homeowner reported to a nearby Clay County Deputy that the suspect had just fled from her garage at 1113 W 7th Street, according to Chief Warburton.  Law Enforcement was able to locate and take Albright into custody without further incident.  

Warburton says Albright is wanted on a felony parole violation from Sioux City with a $20-thousand bond, two Black Hawk County warrants for possession of prescription drugs and interference with official acts with a bond of $2325.   Warburton tells us Albright faces additional charges from Spencer Police as follows:  possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver class B felony, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver class D felony, possession of prescription drugs with intent to deliver class D felony, 3 counts of failure to affix drug tax stamp class D felonies, felon in possession of a firearm class D felony, possession of stolen property an aggravated misdemeanor, eluding law enforcement class D felony, leaving the scene of an injury accident, driving while suspended, failure to file SR insurance, trespass, and 2 counts of failure to obey stop sign.  Albright will be booked into the Clay County Jail. 

Spencer Police were assisted in the pursuit and apprehension by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Department of Narcotics Enforcement and the public. 

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