Sioux City Police Involved In Early Morning Car Chase
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police was involved in a high speed chase pursuit during the early morning hours on Friday. The incident started in the 3700 block of Jackson Street where it was reported that an occupied vehicle in the area was causing a disturbance. Officers located the vehicle and upon their arrival the driver had fled. The vehicle eluded officers south on Nebraska street to 32nd and west on Hamilton Blvd. The driver then went north and attempted to hide behind Clark school. Once found, the vehicle left eastbound through the parking lot driving over the medians. The vehicle was pursued east on Outer Drive to Highway 75. There, the vehicle turned north and continued fleeing at a high rate of speed. The vehicle lost the front left tire and continued on the rim at speeds over 90 mph. A short distance later, the front rim came loose and struck the pursuing patrol car in the windshield. The officer involved was able to maintain control of his vehicle and as the suspect slowed, the officer was able to utilize a Pursuit Intervention Technique on the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect then ran from his vehicle into a nearby corn field. A K-9 dog was used to locate the suspect, and he was quickly taken into custody. The suspect is identified as Chad Hughes, age 31, of Sioux City was arrested and charged with Felony Eluding, operating while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine, five simple misdemeanors and the U-S Marshal’s Service has placed a detainer. The officer in pursuit sustained no injuries, but damage to the patrol car is estimated at $2000.
Cherokee Man Involved In Six Hour Standoff
CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A Cherokee man is in jail after a six-hour standoff with police.
35-year-old Joshua Lee Allender faces several charges including intimidation with a weapon, assault while participating in a felony, assault on a police officer and reckless use of a firearm.
Police say officers responded to home in Cherokee just after 9 p.m. Thursday to a report that someone was threatening suicide. When they arrived, Allender refused to come out and fired a gun from an upstairs window.
After six hours a tactical unit fired tear gas into the home and Allender was arrested shortly after 3:30 a.m.
He remains in jail on $25,000 cash bond.
Fort Dodge Man Sentenced To Life In Prison
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A Fort Dodge man convicted in August of first-degree murder for the 2011 shooting of a man at a party has been sentenced to life in prison.
The Fort Dodge Messenger reports 28-year-old Derrick McElroy said at his sentencing hearing Friday he’s sorry for what happened but did not take responsibility. He indicated he’ll appeal his conviction and seek a new trial.
McElroy was convicted of first-degree murder on August 19th for shooting Brandyn Preston in May 2011. Preston died eight months later from injuries he sustained in the shooting.
Preston’s stepmother, Valerie Newsome, made a statement on behalf of the entire family about how the murder has changed their lives.
Early Voting Gives Republicans Optimism
WASHINGTON (AP) – Early votes have now soared past 15 million across 31 states. That’s enough to give hopeful Republicans as well as nervous Democrats cause for optimism heading into the final weekend of a campaign with control of the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and 36 governorships at stake.
Republicans say a strong early vote in Iowa is evidence that Joni Ernst is a step ahead in her bid to capture a Senate seat. Iowa GOP Governor Terry Branstad says he feels good about the totals, too, especially since Democrats had a big early-vote margin four years ago and he won anyway.
Ernst Has A Financial Advantage Over Braley
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican Joni Ernst is concluding the Iowa Senate race with a significant cash advantage over Democrat Bruce Braley.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Ernst pulled in about $1.4 million between October 1st and October 15th. She had $2.2 million in cash at the end of that period.
Braley reported raising about $840,000 in that time period and had $707,000 left in cash. Both candidates have raised millions and attracted massive outside spending during the competitive race.
Ernst said in an emailed statement Friday that the fundraising numbers reflect the “encouragement I have gotten across the state.” Braley spokesman Jeff Giertz said they were confident about their resources, noting that they have “built the campaign we need to talk about Bruce’s message.”
Clinton To Campaign For Braley
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former President Bill Clinton will speak at a rally for Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Braley in downtown Des Moines.
Clinton was scheduled to appear at the Saturday afternoon rally, as well as an event in Waterloo later in the day. He was expected to encourage Democrats to vote early in the closely fought Senate race.
Braley, a four-term congressman, is competing with Republican Joni Ernst for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. The two are locked in one of the closest races in the nation.
Musician James Taylor was lined up to perform at the Des Moines event.
