Des Moines woman charged in stolen police car case

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Charges have been filed against a Des Moines woman after she allegedly stole a West Des Moines police cruiser in July and led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed drive through the metropolitan area.

Nicole Huffey, 30, is charged with first-degree theft, eluding, assault on persons in certain occupations, assault on persons in certain occupations – bodily injury, second-degree criminal damage, interference with official acts and false 911 call.

The charges stem from an incident that began just before 2 a.m. on July 25 in West Des Moines. Police told WHO 13 they responded to a mental health situation in the area of ​​S. 60th and Village View Drive. Criminal complaints filed in the case allege that Huffey called 911 multiple times and made erratic and unusual statements, as well as threats of violence toward her boyfriend.

The complaint states that when officers arrived, she ran up to an officer, ran around his vehicle, entered through the passenger side, locked the doors and fled.

Huffey headed north on I-35 and continued onto I-35/80 as marked police vehicles with lights and sirens attempted to stop her. The complaint stated that she was driving 125 mph at one point. During the pursuit, two sets of stop sticks were deployed and three tires on the police vehicle were slashed.

Huffey exited the interstate in Altoona and stopped the vehicle at the intersection of SW 8th and Hubbell due to damage. The complaint said she had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle.

She was handcuffed but was able to slip out of one of the cuffs and swing it at officers, striking one. According to the complaint, one officer was scratched by Huffey and another was struck in the face.

West Des Moines Police Sergeant Dan Wade told WHO 13 that Huffey was arrested after she was released from the hospital for treatment for mental health issues.

She was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday and was granted pretrial release on Wednesday. Huffey waived her preliminary hearing, and court records show her arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 27.