Thirty-two-year-old Justin Robert Gerlach pled guilty in the Iowa District Court for Carroll County yesterday (Thursday) to Operating While Intoxicated, third offense and Eluding or Attempting to Elude, both Class D Felonies as a Habitual Offender. Gerlach was arrested after a high-speed chase through three counties on Aug. 11. At approximately 8:45 that evening, Gerlach fled after a Guthrie County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to initiate a routine traffic stop. He traveled through Greene County where the Greene County Sheriff’s office joined in the pursuit. The vehicle was spotted near Bayard on Highway 141, traveling at a high rate of speed into Coon Rapids where a Coon Rapids Police officer pursued Gerlach out of town to the west. The Carroll County Sheriff’s office had also become involved in the high-speed chase at this point and the pursuit ended when the Coon Rapids Police and Carroll County Sheriff’s vehicles collided. At that time, Gerlach was wanted in Hamilton County for Eluding, OWI-3rd offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Parole Violation. Judge Adria Kester sentenced Gerlach to a maximum of 15 years for each offense to be served concurrently. He will be eligible for parole after three years and will receive credit for time served. Gerlach’s license has been revoked for a period of six years. The court said after reviewing the defendant’s criminal history, age, employment and other circumstances of the case, the sentence was rendered to provide for the protection of the community and to allow for the defendant’s rehabilitation.
