Archer, Iowa — A Sheldon man was jailed late Friday night after fleeing a traffic stop and leading law officers on a pursuit that ended in a cornfield near Archer.
According to authorities, the incident began when an Iowa State Trooper attempted to pull over a car for a traffic violation, only to have the driver flee.
Deputies from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and Officers with the Sheldon, Paullina, and Sanborn Police Departments responded to assist the State Trooper with the pursuit.
Authorities say during the pursuit the suspect entered an acreage in the 3400 Mile of Oriole Avenue, north of Archer. The suspect then drove into a corn field where he crashed into a creek. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Sheldon Police Officer Eric Meinecke and his K9 partner Balin were able to track the suspect from the vehicle through a creek and into a corn field.
Deputy Jett Korver, a licensed drone pilot with the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, deployed a drone to aid in the search. The drone is one of two such drones owned by the O’Brien County Emergency Management Agency. The drone is equipped with a FLIR, thermal imaging camera as well as a 4K high resolution camera. Deputy Korver was able to find the suspect hiding in the corn field and directed officers to the suspect’s location.
According to authorities, officers took 43-year-old Shawn Michael Rooney, of Sheldon, into custody without further incident. The Iowa State Patrol has charged Rooney with:
1. Felony Eluding, a Class D Felony
2. Driving Under Suspension, Simple Misdemeanor
3. Driving on the wrong side of a two lane highway, Simple Misdemeanor
4. Failure to Maintain Control, Simple Misdemeanor
5. Speeding (two counts), Simple Misdemeanor
The investigation is still ongoing and further charges are expected, according to authorities.
Agencies involved in the pursuit and apprehension were; Iowa State Patrol, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Sheldon Police Department, Sanborn Police Department, Paullina Police Department and O’Brien County Emergency Management Agency.
