Madison Co. recovers stolen Afton vehicle after pursuit

Timothy Kavanagh, 37, of Bristow, was taken into custody Monday night following a vehicle and foot pursuit in Madison County.

Kavanagh was charged in Union County for the following offenses: theft, first degree; two counts burglary, third degree; 11 counts dominion/control of a firearm by a felon; two counts possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense and failure to affix drug tax stamp.

According to a Union County report, at approximately 4:31 p.m. deputies responded to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 2400 block of Highway 34 in Afton. When they arrived at the home, they discovered the north door had been forced open and a gun safe inside had been cut open with a grinder. Firearms, ammunition, documents and keys to a 2019 Lincoln MKC were taken from the safe. The Lincoln was also stolen from the residence. Law enforcement was able to track the stolen vehicle.

According to a Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, at approximately 7 p.m. Union County notified Madison County the stolen vehicle was traveling northbound on Highway 169 in Madison County. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and a pursuit followed, which eventually ended in the 1000 block of Highway 169 north of Winterset where the driver and only occupant, identified as Kavanagh, abandoned the vehicle after getting it stuck in mud, and attempted to flee from law enforcement on foot.

Union County charging documents show Kavanagh admitted to being in possession of a controlled substance after two syringes, one of which was loaded and field tested positive for methamphetamine and a bottle of 35 oxycodone pills, a schedule II drug, were located in the stolen vehicle. All guns taken from the safe were also found in the vehicle.

Kavanagh was apprehended by Madison County deputies and transferred to the custody of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Assisting Madison County at the scene were Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Van Meter Police Department, DeSoto Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Public Safety.