LIBERTYVILLE – A southeast Iowa man was arrested this week after leading authorities on a high-speed chase in Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says that the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, at approximately 6:48 PM, when a deputy observed a maroon Toyota pickup truck attempting to pass several vehicles in a no-passing zone on Old Highway 34, west of Fairfield.

The deputy observed the vehicle proceed onto the on-ramp to travel west onto Highway 34, where it began passing vehicles on the left-hand shoulder. The deputy reportedly attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver failed to pull over, reaching speeds of up to 77 mph. The pickup eventually began traveling southward, and once the pursuit entered the city of Libertyville, officers executed a PIT maneuver, which forced the truck into a nearby ditch.

The driver of the pickup was identified as 37-year-old Jacob Bickford of Selma, Iowa. Bickford was arrested and charged with Eluding (serious misdemeanor), Excessive Speed – Speeding (simple misdemeanor), and Reckless Driving (simple misdemeanor). He is currently being held in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on a $1,000 bond.