On April 7, 2016 at approximately 10:40 am, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Dispatchers received a 911 call from a male subject at a Reasnor residence. This subject reported that two subjects broke into the residence, assaulted him, and then took his vehicle.   The subject suffered minor injuries.

Jasper County Deputies and other law enforcement officers responded to the area. At approximately 10:52 am, a Jasper County Deputy located the two vehicles southeast of Newton. He confirmed that one of the vehicles was the stolen vehicle.  The second vehicle immediately fled the area.    The Deputy attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, which failed to stop.  The vehicle attempted to elude the deputy. Newton Police Officers were able to assist by placing stop stick devices in the roadway on S 13^th Ave E during the pursuit.

The driver of the stolen vehicle did strike the stop sticks, deflating two tires.   The vehicle continued on S 13^th Ave E in Newton. At the intersection of E 5^th St S and S 13^th Ave E, the deputy was able to initiate a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) and get the stolen vehicle stopped. The driver was taken into custody.   No one was injured during this incident.

The driver was identified as Kelsi Spears, age 23 of Kellogg, Iowa.   She was transported to Jasper County Jail.

The driver of the second vehicle has been identified as Elijah Utterback, age 37 of Ottumwa, Iowa.

On April 7^th, 2016 at 2:30 pm, Elijah Utterback, age 37 of Ottumwa, was taken into custody in Northern Mahaska County.  Mahaska County Deputies located a vehicle he was operating.  Utterback fled on foot into a rural area near the North Skunk River.   This area was near Hwy 146 and on the Poweshiek/Mahaska County Line.  Law Enforcement officers from numerous agencies responded to assist.   A perimeter was established and several search teams checked the area.  A Jasper County Reserve Deputy and K-9 located Utterback hiding in a tree. He was taken into custody without incident.   Agencies assisting included Mahaska and Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Offices, Mahaska and Poweshiek County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol District 13 including an Iowa State Patrol Aircraft, and Mahaska County Conservation.

Utterback is charged with 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Theft, Driving with a Suspended License, and No Insurance. Spears is charged with 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Theft, Felony eluding, driving without a license, no insurance, no license plate, driving on the wrong side of the road, and failure to obey a stop sign.

Criminal charges are merely an allegation and both subjects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.