Tuesday night chase through Cedar Rapids ends in Mercy ER parking lot

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids woman led Linn County deputies on a chase Tuesday night.

According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, deputies attempted to stop a GMC Envoy around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in connection with a suspicious person report in the 7500 block of 42nd Street NE. Police said the driver sped off when the deputy activated his emergency lights.

The driver went east on 42nd Street NE, south on Edgewood Road, east on Glass Road and then continued onto Interstate 380, deputies said. The chase continued south on the interstate until the driver got off at the Seventh Street NE exit. The pursuit finally ended when the driver finally pulled into the Mercy Medical Center emergency room's parking lot approximately seven minutes after the chase began.

Authorities said the driver and sole occupant of the Envoy, 39-year-old Melissa A. Sidwell, was taken into custody and faces charges of eluding and multiple traffic violations. There were no injuries or property damage during the pursuit, police said. The Cedar Rapids Police Department assisted in the chase.

The case remains under investigation.