FORT DODGE – A convicted meth-maker wanted on a federal arrest warrants was cornered in Fort Dodge but wouldn’t go quietly, leading to an experience with a blast of electricity.
On Thursday, October 12, 2017, at approximately 12:17 PM, officers with the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Drug Task Force assisted the United States Marshall’s Office with the execution of a federal arrest warrant on 36-year-old Chad Panzi of Fort Dodge. Panzi was sent to prison back in 2013 after he was convicted of manufacturing meth.
At 12:31 PM, law enforcement were in route to where they believed Mr. Panzi was located in the northwest area of town, when they observed him leaving the area in a white Monte Carlo. Law Enforcement attempted to stop Panzi by activating lights and sirens, however he failed to stop and left the area at a high rate of speed. Panzi ended up stopping his vehicle in the area of 7th Ave. N. and Forest Avenue and attempted to flee on foot by entering a residence located at 709 Forest Ave. Law Enforcement chased Panzi into the house, at which time he again failed to comply with orders to show his hands. This forced law enforcement to deploy a taser. As per policy, emergency medical units were called to evaluate Panzi when he was all done being blasted.
Chad Panzi has been taken into custody by the U.S. Marshall’s service for a Federal Probation violation. Additional charges for his attempt to flee will be filed by the Fort Dodge Police Department and presented to the Webster County Attorney’s office for review.
Assisting agencies included the U.S. Marshall’s Service, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Drug Task Force, Unity Point and the Fort Dodge Fire Department.
