Shots fired during Union County pursuit

Just after 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, Sergeant Dan McNeill with the Union County Sheriff’s Office located Daniel Floyd Edwards, wanted for parole violations with nationwide extradition.

According to a Union County Sheriff’s report, McNeill witnessed Edwards driving a 2013 Chevrolet 2500 with a 18 foot dual-axel trailer on Kingfisher Avenue and 240th street heading north. McNeill activated emergency lights and sirens in a marked sheriff vehicle.

A pursuit ensued as Edwards attempted to elude the sergeant at speeds exceeding 25mph over the speed limit. The sergeant gave chase until the defendant became high-centered in a farm field west of the 260th Street and High and Dry Road intersection.

The sergeant radioed for immediate assistance after shots were fired at the tires of the vehicle, but Edwards was not stopping attempts to elude.

Creston Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, other Union County Deputies and medics from Greater Regional Health responded to the call, but after a brief standoff, Edwards was apprehended before their arrival.

There were no injuries reported.

Union County Sheriff Mark Shepherd said the plan was to pin him to a residence. The multi-jurisdictional entry team (MJET) was brought in about a week ago in rural Union County to attempt this.

“It was not in the plan, but sometimes you have to ad lib as you go,” Shepherd said. “If you have a plan A and plan B, this was more like plan D.”

The truck and trailer Edwards was in possession of were stolen property from Iowa Falls. Edwards was charged with theft in the first degree of a value in excess of $10,000; eluding while participating in a felony and driving while barred.

Edwards has been linked to numerous vehicle thefts in Union, Ringgold, Adams, Adair, Cass and Madison counties.

“This guy runs, he runs with reckless abandon and he’s always run,” Shepherd said. “We were fortunate it ended the way it did. It was not worth the loss of a citizen’s life - the deputy’s life or Mr. Edwards’.”

Edwards is being held at the Union County Jail on a $32,000 cash-only bond.