SHELDON—Two Las Vegas residents were arrested following a high-speed chase that ended near Sheldon on Monday, Sept. 19.
The arrest of 40-year-old Esteban Valdivia Nunez and 33-year-old Cynthia Estrada stemmed from an attempt to stop a 2020 Toyota Corolla for a traffic violation about 8:45 p.m. that day at Hawkeye Avenue and 18th Street Southwest in Le Mars, according to the Le Mars Police Department.
The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit began.
The car traveled at a high rate of speed north on Highway 75 and then north on the Highway 60 expressway. The vehicle was clocked at reaching speeds as high as 116 mph, according to the incident report.
A Sheldon Police Department officer deployed stop sticks just south of Sheldon to deflate the vehicle’s tires.
The vehicle initially took an exit after getting spiked and then got back on Highway 60 before it lost its front driver’s side tire and came to a stop in the median.
Valdivia Nunez, the driver, and Estrada, the passenger, then were taken into custody.
Valdivia Nunez had bloodshot/watery eyes and other signs of impairment and later was evaluated by a drug recognition expert. He also initially did not provide his full name and gave an incorrect date of birth.
A search of the vehicle located a black purse containing marijuana, a marijuana pipe and a THC pen and a blue backpack containing a methamphetamine pipe.
Investigators later determined the vehicle had been reported stolen the previous day in Denver, CO.
Valdivia Nunez was charged with first-offense operating while under the influence; eluding or attempting to elude resulting in an injury to a person other than the driver or while operating while under the influence, committing a controlled substance violation or participating in a felony; first-offense possession of a controlled substance — marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; first-degree theft; speeding; failure to obey a traffic control device; providing false identification information; and no valid driver’s license.
Estrada was charged with first-offense possession of a controlled substance — marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were transported to the Plymouth County Jail in Le Mars.