Two arrested after high-speed chases

 Two car chases by law enforcement led to the arrest of a Laurens man and a Villisca man last Monday. 

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a truck for a traffic violation Monday afternoon. The driver failed to stop. 

A pursuit ensued and lasted around 20 minutes and reached speeds over 100 MPH, according to the sheriff’s office. 

During the pursuit, the suspect swerved his vehicle and used it as a “dangerous weapon” directed at an officer who was attempting to set out stop sticks.

Deputies pursued the vehicle to 260th Street and G Avenue, where the suspect wrecked the pickup truck into a ditch. 

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, “the defendant fled the vehicle before law enforcement was able to locate it” because “the vehicle was heavily concealed by brush and trees and was not visible from the roadway.”

Deputies were able to identify the suspect as Mark Achterberg, 30, of Laurens. They searched for the suspect and took him into custody at approximately 2 p.m.

While searching the vehicle, a stolen 2000 Suzuki motorcycle was found in the truck’s bed. 

Achterberg will be charged with eluding law enforcement, possession of a stolen vehicle and assault on a peace officer, all of which are felonies. He will also receive citations for six stop sign violations, speeding 100 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and careless driving. 

Frank Dunn, Villisca, was also taken into custody by law enforcement following a pursuit in which he failed to stop. 

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputies pursued Dunn after responding to a report of a stolen vehicle. 

Dunn stole a truck from Neola Tire Shop last Monday. Kenneth McDonald, the owner, said he was assisting other customers when someone told him the vehicle, which was sitting in front of the shop, had been stolen. 

Deputies pursued Dunn and set out stop sticks, which Dunn hit a couple of times. Deputies followed him west on I-680, where Dunn performed a U-turn and headed east. 

When Dunn could not pass other vehicles, he proceeded to the median, where the vehicle became stuck.  Deputies arrested Dunn on charges of eluding, theft in the second degree and possession of burglar’s tools.