BUCHANAN COUNTY – A dramatic pursuit of a wanted Iowa man ended in Buchanan county.
On Friday, December 26, 2014, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Speede Shop convenience store in Winthrop, Iowa of a male acting suspiciously at the store. While on the phone, store personnel were able to give the license plate number to the dispatcher. After a check of the number, it was discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Black Hawk County. When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the store, the male suspect had left. He was later seen driving the vehicle in Winthrop by law enforcement. When the suspect saw law enforcement, he attempted to evade capture by driving the vehicle into the Wieland Lumber lot and heading south across an empty corn field in an effort to get to Highway 20. The vehicle became stuck and disabled after entering the ditch before it reached Highway 20. Law enforcement searched the area, but was unable to locate the suspect.
The male suspect, identified as Darren James Ackerman, 32, of LaPorte City, was arrested and charged with felony C first degree theft. He was transported to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office and held pending appearance before a Magistrate. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Police Department and Manchester Police Department K-9 Unit. This incident remains under investigation by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office and further charges are pending in Black Hawk County.
