(Update 4:55)

An investigation into suspicious behavior early this morning in Cass County quickly evolved into a pursuit that ended with the vehicle in a ditch east of Wiota, and one person being taken into custody. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Bartholomew told KJAN News he was passing an SUV while on routine patrol a little after 1-a.m., when he noticed the vehicle made a sudden turn onto a gravel road in the vicinity of 720th and Fairview Road, west of Anita.

When he attempted to catch up to vehicle, it sped-off, with the chase traversing down gravel and dirt roads. The vehicle, a 2002 Mitsubishi, eventually made its way onto 690th and turned west onto Whitepole Road (Highway 6) toward Wiota, with speeds approaching 85-90 miles per hour. The deputy used his Dodge Charger in a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver. The move caused the SUV to enter the south ditch off Whitepole Road, where it came to rest facing northeast. The chase ended at around 1:20-a.m.

The driver of the SUV, Denise Chamberlain, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on charges that include OWI/drugged, felony eluding and other, moving violations. A passenger in the vehicle was not charged. The Sheriff’s cruiser sustained damage to its right front quarter panel and left rear bumper/valance area. The rear damage was sustained when the car was on a dirt road and struck several deep ruts.

No injuries were reported.

(Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature is on track to approve a bill this session that would add penalties for people accused of peeping on others. The House voted 97-0 Tuesday in support of the legislation, which would include new language and penalties in Iowa law regarding scenarios where a person may be caught secretly watching or recording another person in a private space.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, and new language added in the House means it will return to that chamber before it can reach Gov. Terry Branstad.

Police in Council Bluffs are on the lookout for two men who robbed the American National Bank at 2650 W. Broadway, this (Tuesday) morning. Officers were notified at around 11:37-a.m. According to witnesses inside the bank, the two men entered thru the front doors, wearing white masks, black hoodies, black pants, sunglasses and gloves. One of the men had a white short sleeved shirt over the black hoodie he was wearing.

One of the men who was dressed all in black, was armed with a black colored semi-automatic handgun and remained in the lobby area, while the man in the white short sleeved shirt jumped the counter and removed an undetermined amount of money from the cashier’s drawer. The witnesses could not determine the race of the suspects.

Once outside, the suspects left the area in a silver colored Chevrolet Cavalier, traveling northbound on North 26th Street. Within minutes, the suspect vehicle was found abandoned in the 2500 Block of Avenue A.

A check of the vehicle’s license plate indicated that the car had been stolen from the 7000 Block of No. 34th Street in Omaha, at 1:02 a.m. today (Tuesday). The Council Bluffs Police Department is working jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigations to solve this crime. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP. Your tip could be eligible for a cash reward and you can remain anonymous.