MASON CITY — A late-night traffic stop turned into a chase through Mason City’s north side Wednesday, with speeds topping 60 mph before deputies arrested a Kensett man and recovered a firearm reported stolen from Clear Lake, authorities said.
Joseph James Buchite, 35, faces weapons, drug and eluding charges following the October 14 pursuit, according to the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies also reported locating ammunition and suspected marijuana.
The arrest adds a new case to a record previously covered by NorthIowaToday.com, including theft and drunken-driving convictions.
Traffic stop turns into pursuit
The incident began about 10:14 p.m., when a Cerro Gordo County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on North Federal Avenue near 16th Street Northeast.
The driver allegedly fled. Authorities said the pursuit reached speeds exceeding 60 mph on North Pennsylvania Avenue before continuing onto North Delaware Avenue.
The driver stopped on North Delaware and was arrested without further incident, according to the sheriff’s office. Mason City police assisted deputies.
Authorities said a firearm, ammunition and suspected marijuana were located during the pursuit and arrest. The firearm had been reported stolen from Clear Lake. The release did not specify where each item was found or provide details about the gun’s theft.
Weapons, drug and eluding charges
The sheriff’s office identified Buchite as the driver and announced the following charges:
- Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
- Possession of ammunition while a defendant in a domestic violence protective order.
- Trafficking in stolen weapons.
- Third-offense possession of a controlled substance, identified as marijuana.
- Second-offense eluding while exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 mph.
- Driving under suspension.
- Failure to provide proof of insurance.
The jail roster lists the weapons allegations under Iowa Code sections 724.26(1)(a)(1), 724.26(2)(a) and 724.16A(1)(a). It lists the eluding allegation under section 321.279(2)(b), the marijuana allegation under section 124.401(5)(b), driving under suspension under section 321.218(1), and failure to provide proof of financial liability under section 321.20B.
Buchite was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 11:49 p.m. October 14. The sheriff’s release said he was being held there.
Earlier NIT coverage documents convictions
Buchite (pictured at top) has appeared in NIT’s crime coverage before.
In February 2017, NIT reported that Buchite received a one-day jail sentence following a fifth-degree theft conviction stemming from a Clear Lake police case. That report also documented an earlier theft conviction arising from a 2014 Mason City police charge.
Later in 2017, NIT reported that Buchite pleaded guilty to first-offense operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop near Highway 65 and 310th Street. He received seven days in jail and was ordered to pay $1,857.50 in fines and court fees.
Charges of possessing drug paraphernalia, having an open container and driving with a suspended license were dismissed in that earlier case. The same report also noted a separate fighting and disorderly conduct conviction.
Those earlier cases are separate from the allegations arising from Wednesday night’s pursuit. Buchite is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty in court.