(Red Oak, Iowa) – A pursuit in Montgomery County Friday afternoon resulted in two Red Oak Police cars being struck, a suspect in custody, and two police officers suffering minor injuries. The Red Oak Police Department reports the incident began at around 2:41-p.m. At that time, the Montgomery County Communications Center was notified by Mills County Communications, that there was a silver sedan all over the road, heading eastbound on Highway 34 from Emerson. Red Oak Police Officers located the suspect vehicle at Highway 34 and G Avenue, and attempted to make a traffic stop just west of the intersection of Highways 34 and 48.

The vehicle increased its speed and traveled south on Broadway Street. Officers pursued the vehicle southbound on Broadway, at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. The pursuit continued south out of the Red Oak City Limits, and turned west on 223rd Street. At the intersection of 223rd and Gingko Avenue, the suspect vehicle turned back east toward Highway 48. It then turned back north and headed back into the City of Red Oak, where it turned east, with Red Oak Police in pursuit.

The fleeing vehicle struck a Red Oak PD vehicle at S. 5th and High Streets, before turning west onto Oakwood Avenue. The suspect vehicle struck another Police vehicle before becoming disabled at about S. 2nd and Oakwood Avenue. The driver – later identified as 29-year-old Juan Esquivel, Jr. – refused to exit his vehicle, and had to be physically removed. He was taken into custody at around 3-p.m. Two Red Oak Police officers suffered minor injuries during the arrest. Esquivel faces charges that include: Eluding (over 25 mph); OWI/1st offense; 2 counts of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree; 2 counts of Assault on a Peace Officer with a dangerous weapon; 2 counts of Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury, and Driving Under Suspension.

The two Red Oak Police vehicles sustained minor damage. Red Oak Police were assisted during the incident, by the Montgomery County Communications Center, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies.