Police: Jones County man stole vehicle in Monticello, eluded authorities

Authorities said a man from Onslow was involved in a high-speed chase in Fayette County after he stole a car from a Monticello business and assaulted someone. 

Jacob Allan Ahlrichs, 39, was arrested around 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Fayette County on charges of eluding, interference with official acts and second-degree theft. 

Monticello Chief of Police Britt Smith said Ahlrichs will also face charges in Jones County of assault, criminal mischief, trespassing, interference with official acts and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. 

Smith said Ahlrichs forced his way into a business on East Grand Street to confront employees and the owner on Feb. 10. The owner was not there, so Ahlrichs later found the owner at a business on First Street, Smith said, adding that Ahlrichs allegedly assaulted someone there. 

Smith said Ahlrichs was located by law enforcement and was cooperative until he was told that he would be going to the Jones County Jail. 

“He had some personal feeling about that facility that included some mental anguish and conspiracy theories,” Smith told the Express. “That contributed to him not wanting to go to that facility. He was informed he did not have an option to select what jail he was to be transported to.” 

At that point, Ahlrichs fled from officers, Smith said, and alledgedly stole a running vehicle from the parking lot of a business in the 200 block of South Main Street in Monticello. 

“The owner of the vehicle was warming the car up and had started it and left the keys and then returned back into the business,” Smith said. 

This incident in Monticello also promoted a lockdown of Shannon Elementary as a precaution from 1:05 - 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, said district superintendent Brian Jaeger.

“During the lockdown the students were still learning in classrooms, but they were kept inside of the building, as the perimeter of the building remained locked,” Jaeger said in an email sent to parents. 

Later on Feb. 10, Ahlrichs was pulled over by law enforcement 70 miles northwest of Monticello in Fayette County.

Authorities near Oelwein located a 2014 silver Chevrolet Captiva that had previously been reported as acting suspiciously. While attempting to pull over the vehicle, a Fayette County sheriff’s deputy learned the vehicle was reported stolen in Monticello earlier that day. While attempting to pull the vehicle over, the driver accelerated and reached speeds of more than 90 mph, court documents state. 

After a 20-minute pursuit in rural Fayette County, the driver --later identified as Ahlrichs -- drove the vehicle into a snowbank in rural West Union. A foot pursuit ensued, and a short time later, Ahlrichs was tased and arrested, court documents state. 

Once Ahlrichs faces the charges in Fayette County, he will return to Jones County for the same, Smith said.