(Spencer)– A pursuit through a portion of Spencer late Tuesday afternoon involving a stolen vehicle ended on a tragic note.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the intersection of 11th Street Southwest and 11th Avenue Southwest in Spencer around 4:10 pm. Authorities say the driver, 30-year-old Andrew Phillips of Spirit Lake, failed to stop and continued through the city and went through some construction at Spencer Hospital, causing significant damage. At one point they say Phillips displayed a firearm and discharged it outside the vehicle window. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in the parking lot of the First Christian Church at 701 18th Street. Authorities say Phillips then took his own life while in the vehicle.
Spencer Middle School and First Christian Church were placed on lockdown during the pursuit as a precaution.
