Woman leads police on high-speed chase through two counties

CEDAR RAPIDS - Authorities say a woman wanted for escaping the Gerald R. Hinzman Center led multiple police agencies on a high-speed chase that spanned two counties.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the pursuit began around 12:34 p.m. Monday when a Department of Corrections officer recognized 46-year-old Kristi L. Rasmussen and knew her to be wanted for escape from the Hinzman Center, a residential facility providing services to men and women as a condition of probation, as well as a number of other offenders. A Cedar Rapids police officer attempted to pull over Rasmussen who took off and led police on a chase through parts of Cedar Rapids, including the NewBo neighborhood, Buelow said.

'She drove so recklessly through town, so it was called off,” he added.

Sometime later, Rasmussen's vehicle was spotted in Coralville. The Iowa State Patrol again tried to stop her and she again fled, this time leading state troopers, DOC units and deputies with the Johnson and Linn county sheriff's offices on a high speed chase northbound on Interstate 380, Buelow said.

Rasmussen was stopped on northbound 380 between Highway 30 and the airport exit after stop sticks were deployed. Rasmussen was taken into custody.

In addition to her escape from custody charge, Buelow said Rasmussen is to face numerous traffic charges including eluding, speeding and failure to obey traffic signals or control devices. Multiple counts of those charges are likely as police recount the circumstances of Rasmussen's 90-minute chase, Buelow said.

Rasmussen has a lengthy criminal history in Iowa, including multiple arrests for forgery and theft, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent and escape from custody.

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