DES MOINES, Iowa — In an update to our previous report, Police in West Des Moines have identified a woman who was in the Polk County for allegedly stealing a police vehicle and leading officers on a chase. The incident happened back on July 25^th, when the woman, who police say was 30-year-old Nicole Suzanne Huffey, allegedly stole a West Des Moines squad car and led officers on a chase that ended in Altoona.

Police say they initially responded to a report of a woman with an apparent mental health concern. When police arrived, they found Huffey. The department says during the “chaos” of the initial contact, Huffey was able to get into a squad car and drive away.

Nicole S. Huffey (Polk County Jail photo)

Officers tracked the vehicle using a GPS locator and followed Huffey. They say she drove at speeds reaching up to 125 mph before stop sticks were used. Huffey was forcibly removed from the vehicle and handcuffed. According to authorities, she managed to remove a hand from the handcuffs and swing it toward an officer. She then proceeded to punch a second officer in the face.

Huffey was taken to the hospital for evaluation. She’s now charged with two-counts of assault on persons in certain occupations (1 with bodily injury), felony theft in the 1st degree, felony eluding, and felony criminal mischief in the 2nd degree.  Huffey was released from custody Wednesday afternoon.