On Thursday, July 16, 2015, at 10:11 a.m., the Honda of Ames car dealership at 220 Kitty Hawk Drive reported a 2010 Acura was purchased on the previous day with a fraudulently obtained cashier’s check. The dealership called again at 2:27 p.m. when the suspects and vehicle returned to the dealership. Officers responded to the dealership; however one suspect fled on foot while the other suspect fled the area in the Acura.

Officers were initially unable to locate the vehicle; however they located and arrested the suspect who left on foot, after a brief search and foot pursuit near the DNR Nursery on S. Duff Avenue.

The suspect was later identified as Chad M. Bryant, age 27, no permanent address. Witnesses reported Bryant was the individual who purchased the vehicle with the fraudulently obtained cashier’s check.

The Acura returned to the area as the officers were searching for Bryant. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle near S. Duff Avenue and Highway 30. The driver did not stop and led the officers westbound on Highway 30 at a high rate of speed. The pursuit was terminated by an Ames Police supervisor once the fleeing vehicle continued into Boone County.

The Iowa State Patrol and Boone County Sheriff’s Office continued to pursue the vehicle. The driver was eventually taken into custody near Polk City. The driver was identified as Donald Ferguson, age 51, of Marshalltown.

Bryant was charged with:

 Forgery, an aggravated misdemeanor

 Forgery, a class D felony

 Identity Theft, a class D felony

 Theft 1st Degree, a class C felony

 Harassment of a Public Official, a simple misdemeanor

 Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor

Ferguson was charged with:

 Theft 1st Degree, a class C felony

 Eluding while Participating in a Felony, a class D felony

 Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana, a serious misdemeanor

 Driving while License Suspended, a simple misdemeanor

The Ames Police Department was assisted in the investigation by Marshalltown Police, the Iowa State Patrol, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone having information concerning this incident should contact the Ames Police Department (515) 239-5133 or the anonymous tip line (515) 239-5533. You may also contact the Story County Crime Stoppers: Phone number: (515) 382-7577,

Online:www.storycountycs.com, Text: Text the word “STORYCOUNTY” plus your tip to

274637 (CRIMES).

Questions regarding this press release may be directed to Commander Jason Tuttle, Ames Police

Department, at (515) 239-5312 or (515) 239-5133.