Man involved in 100-mph chase leads authorities on another chase

WEST AMANA - A Cedar Rapids man who led police on a high-speed chase in February, resulting in a multicar crash, was at it again on Tuesday, authorities said.

James Surrett, 46, is in custody in the Linn County Jail after leading authorities on a multicounty pursuit that began in Norway and ended in West Amana.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Surrett was wanted by the Linn County Sheriff's Office for charges related to the violation of a no-contact order. After the sheriff's office learned of a possible location for Surrett, deputies contacted the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force for assistance in taking him into custody, given Surrett's history of assault on peace officers, eluding, interference and use of narcotics.

Around 4 p.m., the marshals tracked Surrett to a residence in the 7000 block of Euclid Avenue in Norway. Authorities said Surrett fled the residence in a stolen vehicle through an adjacent field and led officers from the Marshals Service, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Linn County Sheriff's Office, Benton County Sheriff's Office and Iowa County Sheriff's Office on a chase through Benton and Iowa counties.

Authorities said Surrett abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled on foot into a residence in West Amana. A K-9 officer tracked the fugitive to a residence in the 400 block of F Street. There, the marshals found Surrett hiding in a back room, where he was taken into custody without incident.

According to the marshals service, Surrett will likely face additional charges stemming from Tuesday night's incident.

This was the second chase involving Surrett this year.

On Feb. 10, the Linn County deputies tried to pull him over on Highway 13, south of Mount Vernon Road, but he instead led authorities on a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph. The chase ended when Surrett went northbound on First Street SW near Riverside Park and collided with a truck and a Cedar Rapids Community School District bus. Four students and two staff members were on the bus at the time, but were not injured. The driver of the truck and her young child were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

For that incident, Surrett - who has a lengthy criminal history including convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of precursor with intent to manufacture meth, aiding and abetting the manufacturing of meth and possession of cocaine - was charged with eluding, driving while barred, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Just eight days later, Surrett allegedly assaulted a woman, grabbing her by the hair and hitting her in the face. Surrett also allegedly threatened to kill the woman, confined her against her will and left in her vehicle without her permission. For that incident, he was charged with first-degree harassment, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent, assault causing bodily injury and false imprisonment.

According to court records, Surrett posted bonds for both cases in April. He is set to go to trial for both cases in September.