DES MOINES, Iowa — A driver has been jailed after a high-speed chase through Polk County Thursday night ended on I-35 just north of the metro.
Eric Gatton, 32, is being held in the Polk County Jail on charges of eluding, OWI, reckless driving, careless driving, assault on persons in certain occupations, and interference with official acts.
The chase started near the East Village in Des Moines around 9:15 p.m. and stretched all the way to the Highway 210 exit leading to Slater. That’s where Sgt. Paul Parizek with the Des Moines Police Department said Gatton turned around and started heading south on I-35. He eventually crashed the truck he was driving near the rest stop north of Ankeny.
Police shut down all lanes of traffic to make the arrest. Sgt. Parizek said troopers with the Iowa State Patrol had to use tear gas to get Gatton out of his truck.
The pursuit was a joint effort between the Des Moines and Ankeny police departments and the Iowa State Patrol.