Lee County, Ia (Daily Democrat)- A Cedar Rapids man was arrested Monday after leading law enforcement officers on a chase through a portion of Lee County, confronting officers with a knife, and being tased.
The Fort Madison Daily Democrat reports that 36-year-old Andrew Schmietzer was apprehended after leading Lee County Sheriff deputies, as well as Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol and West Point Police officers on a chase at speeds between 60 and 80 mph on Highway 16 through Denmark.
Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber said it began as a domestic case and officers received a report of a man allegedly ramming a vehicle into structures in the 1800 block of 235th Avenue near Wever.
Weber said Schmietzer then exited the vehicle and slashed the tires before fleeing the area in his vehicle. A chase then ensued westbound on Highway 16 through Denmark at speeds between 60-80 mph. Authorities deployed stop sticks in his path and punctured his right front tire.
Weber said Schmietzer continued despite the punctured tire and turned north onto 26t5th Avenue before the vehicle became disabled and stopped.
Officers convinced Schmietzer to surrender the weapon. Schmietzer was then tased and taken into custody.
Schmietzer is charged with eluding law enforcement, careless driving, assaulting an officer causing injury, operating a non registered vehicle, assault, second-degree criminal mischief causing more than $1,000 work of damage, and assault with a weapon upon law enforcement officials.
He is in custody at the Lee County Jail.
