A Des Moines man wanted in Story County was arrested after first escaping from authorities in Shelby County.

On Friday afternoon, the Iowa Department of Probation and Parole attempted to serve an arrest warrant to 43-year-old James Ray Sparks of Des Moines at a residence in the 400 block of Mulberry Road in Shelby County.  Sparks fled the residence through the back door when officers arrived.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the escape and responded to the scene to help search a cornfield and bean field near the residence.  Authorities later received help from K-9 units in Cass and Pottawatamie County and from a private aircraft from the Harlan Airport.

After searching for several hours the search was called off and the suspect was not located.

Later that same evening at about 9:30, Sparks was located in in the 400 block of Mulberry Road in Shelby County and taken into custody by the Sheriff Mark Hervey.

Sparks was transported the Shelby County Jail where he is awaiting extradition to Story County for violation of probation charges.