Sheriff's deputies snatch up another suspect after high-speed chase

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

MONTROSE - An early morning high speed chase through central Lee County has resulted in the arrest of a Burlington man with 14 outstanding warrants.

According to Lee County Chief Deputy Will Conlee, William J. Kirchner, Jr., 29 of Burlington, was apprehended by Lee County deputies at about 6:30 a.m. this morning after a chase that reached in excess of 100 mph along River Road and Hwy. 61.

KIRCHNER JR.

Lee County deputies clocked Kirchner allegedly traveling at 105 mph in a 65 mph zone in the 2900 block of Hwy. 61 and began a pursuit. Deputies were able to catch up to the vehicle in the 2900 block of River Road and pursued him along county roads until he jumped out of the vehicle just south of Central Lee schools on 270th Street and fled on foot into the woods.

"He parked and left on foot into the woods and K9 Kion was deployed to track him," Conlee said. "We got just enough light that we were able to apprehend him shortly after that without incident."

Kirchner was driving a Ford Fusion with Iowa plates that had been reported stolen out of Hancock County in Illinois.

Conlee said he has been charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of stolen property, aggravated eluding, driving while suspended, excessive speed, fraudulent use of registration, in addition to the 14 outstanding arrest warrants.

It's the third high speed chase the sheriff's department has been involved in in the past three weeks. On Saturday night, a Lee County Cruiser was damaged as a suspect sped through Fort Madison after being chased into the county by the Des Moines County law enforcement. The suspect in that chase collided with Lee County Deputy Joshua Wade who tried to block the suspect at the intersection of Avenue F and 10th Street, causing more than $7,000 damage to the cruiser.

That suspect also jumped out of the vehicle, in the 1600 block of F, leaving the vehicle running and led authorities on a chase, and was still at large on Sunday.

In the early morning hours of March 20, deputies pursued a vehicle driven by Adam Huss, 29, of Fort Madison, through Fort Madison with Fort Madison Police and then into the county. Huss allegedly hit speeds of 75 mph in Fort Madison city limits and then 90 out on Hwy. 61 heading north where he was apprehended near Wever. A deputy was successful in a maneuver to stop Huss' vehicle, but sustained minor damage.

breaking, county, hig-speed chase, Lee County Sheriff's office, Montrose, Pen City Current, theft

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