Clear Lake man caught after high-speed pursuit in rural Cerro Gordo county

CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake man was caught after a high-speed pursuit in rural Cerro Gordo county.

At about 10:57 PM on February 6, a Cerro Gordo County deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on Highway 122 near North 40th Street for an equipment violation and for license plates not matching the suspect vehicle. A vehicle pursuit began after the driver fled from deputies, which lasted approximately 13 minutes and reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour at times. The pursuit drove through rural Cerro Gordo County on gravel roadways, on 210th Street, Interstate 35, and Highway 18. The driver then exited Highway 18 onto Mallard Avenue. At that time, a deputy used a vehicle intervention technique to attempt to stop the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued south on Mallard Avenue and then crashed into the ditch at 230th Street, where the driver was taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, Ryan James Whitver, age 26 of Clear Lake, was arrested and taken to the Cerro Gordo County jail. The passenger in the suspect vehicle, Alyssa Michelle Hopkins, 23, of Clear Lake, was transported to Mercy One by a friend for a possible injury as a result of the accident. Whitver was also transported to Mercy One after being taken to jail, for a possible injury. He was treated and released and taken to the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

No law enforcement were injured, but one patrol vehicle sustained damage.

Whitver is being charged with eluding, a class D felony; carrying weapons, a class D felony; possession of controlled substance 2nd offense, an aggravated misdemeanor; operating while under the influence, a serious misdemeanor; driving under suspension, a simple misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor, and 4 counts of fail to obey a traffic control device, all simple misdemeanors.

Whitver is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on no bond until seen by a magistrate.

Deputies were assisted by Iowa State Patrol Troopers, Mason City Police, and Mason City Fire Medics. This incident is under investigation and further charges are possible.