Car chase leads to stolen vehicle in Hartley

Local authorities are still investigating an incident that led to a brief vehicle pursuit and stolen vehicle on Aug. 21 in Hartley.

According to Hartley Police Officer Ryan Austin, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Deputy Lee Vellema was in the process of stopping a vehicle near the Hartley Community Daycare Center at approximately 7:30 p.m. when the driver fled before he could activate his lights. The individual went southbound on North Seventh Avenue East, turned west on East Maple Drive, then north through an alley near Peters Construction before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Austin was on the west end of town at the time of the pursuit, which was over by the time he arrived. Law enforcement located the vehicle but could not find the suspect.

Austin said the vehicle was registered to a female, but the driver was male. A K9 unit was brought over from Sheldon, and though the dog hit on the scent of narcotics inside the vehicle, it was unable to track the person who fled.

Police received a report of a stolen truck in Hartley at approximately 6 a.m. the following morning. The owner of the vehicle said it was lifted sometime between 3 a.m. and 5:40 a.m.

Austin said investigators believe the incidents are connected and people of interest have been identified. The truck was eventually located unscathed in Sergeant Bluff by the owner’s children.

Vellema on Tuesday said the investigation is ongoing and no charges had been filed. He had no further comments on the incident.