Hiawatha man leads officers on chase, charged with vehicle theft and burglary tool possession

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Hiawatha man faces charges after a low-speed and then high-speed chase through Linn County on Thursday that ended when Jacob Michalec's vehicle developed engine trouble.

Michalec, 31, faces charges of second-degree theft of a vehicle, possession of burglary tools, driving while barred and traffic charges, as well as having a warrant for his arrest on fraudulent use of a credit card.

The chase started around 8:41 a.m. when a Linn County Sheriff's deputy observed a southbound vehicle being driven 'in an unsafe manner” and passing in a no-passing zone in the 3300 block of C Street SW in Cedar Rapids, according to a news release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office,

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver didn't stop, triggering a 'low-speed pursuit” along on C Street SW to Wright Brothers Boulevard, then east to Mabie Road, north on Jappa Road and east onto Highway 30.

The vehicle accelerated to 80 mph on the highway and began to show signs of motor damage. The car turned onto Vislisel Road, where it stopped 'due to what appeared to be mechanical engine damage,” and Michalec was arrested, according to the release.