Ames High Parent Leads Police on 100 MPH Chase (updated)

A parent who fled from Ames High School Thursday led Marshall County sheriff deputies on a chase that reached speeds above 100 miles per hour and caused Ames High school to “shelter in place.”

The woman, Alischa Mary Clark, 39, called Ames police concerned about the welfare of her child. Police went to speak to the woman who was in the high school parking lot and she fled the scene, according to a release from the Ames Police Department. The discussion never became physical, said Ames Police CMDR. Geoff Huff.

Police asked the school to be placed in a shelter-in-place lock down after she left.

Marshall County deputies became involved in the chase southeast of State Center on Hart Avenue, according to a report in the Times-Republican. The driver reached speeds of 115 mph, according to the report.

The woman drove around deployed stop sticks and stopped on her own and was eventually taken into custody for a mental evaluation.

Clark will be charged with three misdemeanor charges as a result of the incident in Ames including, reckless driving, excessive speed and failure to obey a stop sign, according to a release issued by Ames Police Friday afternoon.

EARLIER STORY

A shelter in place lock down at the Ames High School was lifted about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

School administrators placed the high school on the restricted access lock down or shelter in place about noon in response to a domestic situation. The lock down was strictly a precaution. 

Administrators said the behavior of a parent outside the building prompted the response.

Students remained in their classrooms during the shelter in place and continued class work. 

Police plan on maintaining a presence at the school the rest of the day, according to a release from the school.

EARLIER STORY

Ames High School went on a precautionary lock down about noon Thursday under the direction of the school resource officer said Kathy Hanson, director of communication for the Ames Community Schools.

The school remained under a shelter in place lock down as of 12:52 p.m. Students are safely inside their classrooms and entrances and exits to the building are on restricted access.

“No one needs to come pick up their kids,” she said.

Hanson could give few details but said that there was a concern outside the building that led administrators to put the lock down in place.

Ames High School Principal Spence Evans said in a release that more details will be provided when appropriate.

“This measure is a precaution,” Evans said. “We will provide additional details when it is appropriate to do so.”

The difference between a lock down and a shelter in place is that people may be allowed in and out of the building during the situation and students continue to learn during the shelter in place.