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A Knoxville police officer’s attempt to make a traffic stop in Knoxville in the early morning hours resulted in a chase that lasted approximately 45 minutes and involved multiple law enforcement agencies. The chase started at about 1:35 am. The Knoxville officer, Officer Corey Derby, was soon joined by Marion County Sheriffs deputies as he pursued the vehicle to Tracy and back to Knoxville, reaching speeds of about 90 miles per hour. The vehicle then went south on Highway 5 to Hamilton, down into Monroe County, up through Bussey and into Mahaska County. The vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, eventually went into a ditch near Barrows Avenue. At one point near Tracy, the vehicle being chased went through a bean field.

The driver, 31-year-old Joshua Mark West, of Ottumwa, was arrested and charged with OWI 2nd, felony Eluding a Police Officer, and numerous traffic offenses. The passenger, 27-year-old Nelda Marie Garcia, of Des Moines, was also arrested. She was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver and Failure to Have a Drug Tax Stamp. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies, Mahaska County Deputies, and the Iowa State Patrol assisted. KNIA/KRLS will provide you more information as it becomes official.