In an update to our report at noon, Monday, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said today (Tuesday), a man from Pottawattamie County and a woman from Shelby County were arrested following a chase, crash, and one-mile perimeter search. The incident began at around 9:20-a.m., when authorities received a call about suspicious activity around a rural residents’ vehicle located off of 900th Street, between Oak and Orange Roads.

Brittni Finken

When deputies approached the scene, the suspects sped-off in a dark colored car in an easterly direction on 900th Street. With deputies in pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle turned north onto Quince Road and crossed Highway 44 at speeds of around 100-miles per hour. The suspect’s vehicle lost control at the T-intersection of Quince and Nishna Roads, and crashed into the north ditch before coming to rest on its top.

The male and female suspects took off on foot into a corn field and were located hours later in a culvert, thanks to the assistance of the Omaha Police Department’s helicopter, “Able 1,” and the Shelby County K-9 Unit. Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail.

The suspects, 28-year old T-J Lebaugh, of Council Bluffs, and 25-year old Brittni Finken, of Harlan, face charges that include: Carrying a concealed weapon; Manner of conveyance of a fire arm; Possession of a Controlled Substance; and, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lebaugh faces additional charges related to traffic violations. The pair were being held in the jail on $2,000 bond, each.

Assisting with the search for the suspects was officers with the Harlan Police Department, deputies with the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, and Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol. Additional assistance was provided at the accident scene by the Harlan Fire Department and Medivac Ambulance.

(8-a.m. News)