MONTEZUMA – Authorities are searching for a man who escaped a standoff with law enforcement in Poweshiek County and is considered armed and dangerous.

The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office says that yesterday evening, at around 6:00pm, deputies responded to 520 North Front Street in Montezuma for a report of a subject with an active arrest warrant. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the individual, who was identified as Michael Zurek. Zurek was reportedly armed with a large kitchen knife, and after a brief standoff, he fled on foot.

Zurek was able to get to a wooded location in southwest Montezuma and deputies lost sight of him at that point.

Approximately 20 officers from the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol, along with members of Poweshiek County Emergency Management and the Montezuma Ambulance responded to the call for assistance, and those involved set up a perimeter and searched a large wooded area by foot and the use of drones.

Authorities say that Zurek was not located, and at this time, he remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Zurek has an active warrant for his arrest, and the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office says that he will have new charges from this incident.

Anyone with information about Zurek’s whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 immediately, and they are advised against approaching him.