UPDATE: Iowa State Patrol details 100 mph car chase, forced stop leading to Olmsted County warrant arrest

[anvplayer video=”5162413″ station=”998128″]

(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: The Iowa State Patrol arrested Jesse James Johnson in a stolen vehicle Friday, after a car chase along a gravel road that reached over 100 mph speeds, PIO Tom Williams said.

According to Williams with the ISP, an Iowa State Trooper allegedly located Johnson in the stolen car on a gravel road near Manly, Iowa a little before 8 p.m. Feb. 10.

Williams said the trooper attempted a traffic stop, which Johnson allegedly evaded, and the two raced into Manly, where they were joined by members of the Manly Police Department.

Williams said the vehicles slowed down enough for the trooper to attempt a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) stop, pulling along and slightly behind Johnson’s vehicle, then nudging a rear tire enough to force the suspect vehicle to spin out.

Johnson was taken into custody after the forced stop, he said.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Johnson faces the following charges in Worth County: eluding law enforcement, 2nd-degree theft, driving without a license, and multiple speed and stop sign violations.


(ABC 6 News) – The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) announced on Monday morning that a suspect involved in a Rochester use-of-deadly-force incident in December has been arrested.

Jesse James Johnson, 38, was arrested in Worth County, Iowa, on Friday after fleeing law enforcement officers as they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, according to OCSO. Johnson is in custody at the Worthy County Jail pending court proceedings on new charges related to that incident.

The OCSO says when Johnson is released from Worth County proceedings, the extradition process will begin to return him to Olmsted County.

The investigations in Olmsted County are open and continuing. A current of assault is being reviewed by the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office at this time.

RELATED: RPD confirms search for Johnson ongoing

According to the Rochester Police Department, Johnson was located in the 1000 block of 15th Avenue SE near Planet Fitness on the afternoon of Dec. 14, 2022.

Johnson is allegedly known to carry firearms on his person, and had an arrest warrant for 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon — a firearm.

According to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 14, deputies with the warrants unit and the regional  Violent Crime enforcement team located a vehicle with an individual that has a warrant for his arrest.

As deputies made their approach during the attempted warrant arrest, the suspect was able to get to his car, a silver Pontiac G6, and began to flee – allegedly ramming two law enforcement vehicles before driving off.

During the incident, the use-of-deadly-force was used as one shot was fired by Olmsted County Sheriff Deputy Sean Cooper. The OCSO said the suspect was in his vehicle when Dep. Cooper fired his department handgun. It wasn’t clear if the suspect was injured. No other injuries were reported.

RELATED: Deputy who discharged weapon in Rochester use of force incident last week identified

Dep. Cooper has been with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office for 3 years, and has been a police officer for a total of 17.5 years.

RPD said that the OCSO requested RPD investigate the use-of-deadly-force by the deputy, which they say is standard procedure following a shooting.

ABC 6 News will provide additional information when it becomes available.