Le Mars, Iowa — A South Sioux City man is behind bars after leading officers on a chase through Woodbury and Plymouth counties and just into Sioux County.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office reports that they were notifies by the Woodbury County communications center about 2:35 on Saturday morning that the Sioux City Police were in a pursuit with a white pickup northbound on Floyd Boulevard and it appeared that it was headed into Plymouth County.
Before Plymouth County deputies could get into position, they were told the Sioux City Officers ended the pursuit since it entered into Plymouth County. The pickup had last been seen going northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 75 near Hinton.
Plymouth County Deputies checked the area of Hinton and the vehicle was located on the south edge of Hinton turning north onto Highway 75. Deputies followed the pickup and saw it traveling all over the road and speeding. Le Mars officers were called and requested to set up between Merrill and Le Mars on Highway 75 with stop sticks. Lights and sirens were activated in an attempt to stop the vehicle south of Merrill at which time the vehicle attempted to flee.
The Sheriff’s Office says the pickup continued northbound on Highway 75 and did run over the stop sticks that had been deployed on the roadway. By the time the pickup had reached C-38 and Highway 75 its tires had already began falling apart. It continued northbound on Highway 75 and then Highway 60 from Le Mars.
Deputies say that by that time the vehicle had lost three of its tires and was running on rims. The pickup had to slow down its speeds due to the condition of its tires but continued fleeing from officers. The pickup continued north on Highway 60 to K-64 at Carnes, where it turned back south.
According to the report, the driver continually threw items of clothing at the pursuing officers behind it. The driver also made numerous offensive hand gestures directed to the pursuing officers while being chased. The vehicle continued south on K-64 failing to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of K-64 and Highway 3. The pursuit continued south on K-64 with the suspect vehicle again going through the stop sign located at the intersection of K-64 and C-38.
By the time the pursuit reached the 2300 block of K-64, authorities say the suspect slowed down to a stop and bailed out of his pickup and ran east into a hog confinement area. Deputies were able to apprehend the suspect not far from where he had stopped.
The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Michael Ryan Derby of South Sioux City, Nebraska. He was charged with two counts of speeding, two stop sign violations, Felony Eluding, (class D Felony) and Operation while Intoxicated 3rd Offense, which is also a felony.
As of Monday morning, July 20th, he was still being held in the Plymouth County Jail on a $5000 bond.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department reports that the Le Mars Police, Iowa State Patrol, Orange City Police and the Kingsley Police Department assisted with the incident.
