Car chase leads to two arrests

Two people were taken to Jasper County Jail early Wednesday evening after a chase ended next to a cornfield north of Newton.

According to Jasper County Chief Deputy Sheriff Duane Rozendaal, a vehicle pursuit began when the Iowa State Patrol attempted to pull over a small, white compact car on Iowa Highway 14 shortly after 5 p.m. The driver eluded authorities, and a chase led to the suspects attempting to flee on foot near the corner of N. 63rd Ave. E. and E. 4th St. N.

The suspects were quickly apprehended and taken to Jasper County Jail. Micheal Phillips, 19, and Kacie Horstman, 19, were both arrested.

Both are being held without bond in Jasper County Jail. Phillips is charged with eluding, driving with a suspended license and violation of a no-contact order. Horstman is charged with violation of a no-contact order and allowing a non-licensed person to drive a vehicle.

Rozendaal said at least one of the suspects told police there was a third person in the vehicle, but a thorough search of a cordoned-off area, which included a canine, produced no evidence of a third person.

Rozendaal said it's possible there might be a third suspect who escaped, but that seems doubtful to him. The state patrol and sheriff abandoned the search shortly before 7 p.m.

The Newton Daily News is still in the process of contacting the Iowa State Patrol to find out what triggered the initial contact by police. The online version of this story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com

Two people were taken to Jasper County Jail early Wednesday evening after a chase ended next to a cornfield north of Newton.

According to Jasper County Chief Deputy Sheriff Duane Rozendaal, a vehicle pursuit began when the Iowa State Patrol attempted to pull over a small, white compact car on Iowa Highway 14 for excessive speed shortly after 5 p.m. The driver eluded authorities, and a chase led to the suspects attempting to flee on foot near the corner of N. 63rd Ave. E. and E. 4th St. N.

The suspects were apprehended and taken to Jasper County Jail. The driver, Micheal Phillips, 19, of Newton and the passenger, Kacie Horstman, 19, of Monroe, were both arrested.

Both are being held without bond in Jasper County Jail. Phillips is charged with eluding, driving with a suspended license and violation of a no-contact order. Horstman is charged with violation of a no-contact order and allowing a non-licensed person to drive a vehicle.

Rozendaal said at least one of the suspects told police there was a third person in the vehicle, but a thorough search of a cordoned-off area, which included a canine, produced no evidence of a third person.

Rozendaal said it's possible there might be a third suspect who escaped, but that seems doubtful to him at this point. The state patrol and sheriff abandoned the search shortly before 7 p.m.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com