Cedar Rapids man leads police on chase in stolen car

A Cedar Rapids man led police on a chase through the city in a stolen car early Thursday morning.

The incident began around 1:30 a.m. Thursday when officers observed a gray Honda Pilot traveling the wrong direction in the 1500 block of Oakland Road NE. Police said when they tried to pull over the driver, later identified as 45-year-old Jacob M. Voshell, he turned in to an apartment complex, sped up and drove through the grass back onto Oakland Road.

The chase continued from there, with Voshell going the wrong way on one-way streets, driving on the wrong side of the road and running stoplights and stop signs.

Eventually, Voshell turned behind an apartment complex on 28th Street SE and drove into a yard and over an embankment before crashing into some trees. Police said Voshell got out and ran on foot, but eventually stopped for the officers. Police said a passenger in his car, 20-year-old Ashley Pennington, also tried to run, but she got stuck in a fence.

After a brief struggle, police put Voshell into custody. Officers discovered the Honda Pilot - which had stolen license plates on it -  was reported stolen from North Liberty. In addition to marijuana, police said they found bolt cutters, screwdrivers, ratchets and sockets on Voshell.

Voshell faces charges of attempting to elude, driving with a suspended license, first-degree theft, fifth-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance, possession of prescription drugs, possession of burglar's tools, interference with official acts, two counts of violating the sex offender registry and a multitude of moving violations.

Pennington faces charges possession of burglar's tools, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts. She also had outstanding warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia and providing false information.