(Spencer)– An Emmetsburg man faces multiple charges following a high speed pursuit that started shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Spencer and ended about 18 minutes later with the vehicle crashing about a mile west of Emmetsburg.
Spencer police say it started when an officer observed a vehicle speeding in the 200 block of 11th Street southeast in Spencer. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, driven by 18-year-old Benjamin Matthews of Emmetsburg, but authorities say Matthews increased his speed.
A second officer joined in the pursuit that occasionally exceeded 120 miles-per-hour. It continued eastbound on several gravel roads, with Matthews occasionally turning off his headlights in an effort to lose officers.
Matthews eventually lost control of the vehicle in the 3800 block of 440th Avenue about a mile west of Emmetsburg where it crashed into a ditch. Matthews jumped out and started running through a field, where officers finally caught him.
Matthews was booked into the Clay county jail on charges of eluding, a class “D” felony; possession of a controlled substance…marijuana…a serious misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, failure to prove insurance, excessive speed, failure to obey a stop sign and operating with an expired registration…all simple misdemeanors.
Matthews was also charged by Palo Alto county authorities with intereference with official acts, failure to obey a stop sign and failure to maintain control…all simple misdemeanors. He’s being held in the Clay county jail on 11,700-dollars bond.
The vehicle he was driving was totaled.
The Spencer Police Department was assisted by the Clay and Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Offices, Iowa State Patrol, the Pocahontas County K9 Unit; Emmetsburg Police Department and the Emmetsburg Fire Department.
