OELWEIN – An Iowa man who led police on a high-speed chase before attempting to flee on foot was finally charged this week.
According to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at approximately 8:45 PM, a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1800 blk 100th Street (Hwy 281) south of Oelwein. The vehicle attempted to elude the deputy westbound on 100th Street and then turned north on R Avenue into Fayette County. The pursuit lasted approximately 30 minutes and reached speeds in upwards of 100 mph. The pursuit ended at 130th Street and P Avenue southwest of Fayette in Fayette County when the vehicle failed to negotiate a turn and entered the ditch. A brief foot chase ensued but the driver was apprehended. Herman Lee Ronnfeldt, 49, of Hazleton was taken into custody and transported to the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence for precautionary reasons.
Ronnfeldt was arrested on Thursday, March 05, 2015 and charged with Eluding (class D felony), second offense Operating While Intoxicated (aggravated misdemeanor) and Reckless Driving (serious misdemeanor). Ronnfeldt was also issued citations for Speeding, Driving on Wrong Side of Highway and Fail to Carry Proof of Insurance.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this arrest by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol. Ronnfeldt will also face numerous charges in Fayette County related to this incident.
