Story County Sheriff: Man Caught After 100 MPH Pursuit Through Nevada

UPDATED 3:20 p.m. May 1, 2013

The 37-year-old man, who Ames police believe led them on a chase in a stolen truck on April 24, was captured early Wednesday after an hour-long chase through and around Nevada, according to the Story County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Deputies said James Choate was seen driving another stolen vehicle, a Mercury Mountaineer, through Nevada about 3:46 a.m. on Wednesday, and wouldn't stop when Story County Sheriff deputies tried to pull him over.

Choate led deputies on a chase 10 miles north of Nevada and back before he hit a van parked in an alleyway, according to a news release. When Choate tried to escape on foot, a deputy hit him with a taser, the release said.

“He was a menace and needed to be taken into custody,” said Capt. Barry Thomas, chief deputy of the Story County Sheriff's Office.

Much of the chase took place in rural Story County on both gravel and paved roads and reached speeds above 100 miles per hour, Thomas said.

During the chase, Choate reportedly struck a retaining wall and drove through at least one Nevada resident's yard, said Nevada Police Chief Ricardo Martinez.

An Iowa State Patrol vehicle was also damaged in the chase, but Thomas wouldn't elaborate on the cause.

Thomas said deputies and other officers were never in the position to deploy stop sticks, though they tried to. The Mercury SUV had been reported stolen from McCallsburg.

Choate was charged with eluding, a Class D felony; driving while barred, second-degree theft, a Class D felony; interference with official acts, reckless driving and a number of traffic violations.

Ames Police had planned to charge Choate with with second-degree theft, a Class D felony; driving while barred, eluding, reckless driving and interference with official acts for the April 24 chase through Ames. Class D felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison.

A week ago, Ames police say, they tried to stop Choate, who was allegedly driving a stolen 1986 Chevrolet K30 flat bed truck at about 1:15 a.m. near Dayton and Edison streets.

He refused to stop and let out a passenger near Lincoln Way and Carnegie before continuing and eventually drove through a corn field and into the Skunk River before escaping on foot, according to police.

Police learned after the chase that the truck was reported stolen from Nevada, according to a release.

The Story County Sheriff said more charges are pending related to the most recent chase.

Choate was being held Wednesday morning in the Story County Jail on a $28,400 bond.

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