MASON CITY – An Iowa man who was spotted behind the wheel of a stolen car while cruising Mason City and then led cops on a dangerous chase was sent to prison this week for his crimes.
Trenton Douglas McCleary, age 29 of Cedar Rapids, is in the Cerro Gordo county jail awaiting transport to prison. He was found guilty by a jury of reduced charges of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent (instead of felony second-degree theft) and eluding over 25 miles per hour (instead of felony eluding).
A Cerro Gordo deputy located a stolen 2009 Hyundai Sonata from Cedar Rapids on the evening of December 14, 2015, at about 9:16 PM near 19th Street and South Federal Avenue in Mason City. He pursued until Highway 18 and then attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, the driver, McCleary, turned west and fled.
Mason City police were called in to assist along with more deputies as McCleary continued west, entering the eastbound lanes of Highway 18 at times, and increasing speeds. He eventually went south on Interstate 35, where he reached speeds over 120 miles per hour. McCleary then headed west on county road B43, and then turned south onto Grouse Avenue, south of Clear Lake.
Next, McCleary left the roadway into a ditch and struck a Mason City police department patrol vehicle before entering a corn field. The vehicle became stuck there, and McCleary fled on foot. A short foot pursuit ended when he was caught and arrested.
McCleary was transported to Mercy Medical Center by Mason City fire medics with minor injuries. The female passenger in the car was evaluated and released with no charges. No officers were injured in the pursuit.
