Rochester man who led Mower County authorities on high-speed chase from Austin to Lyle Friday afternoon in custody

A Rochester man who led authorities in Mower County on a high-speed chase from Austin to Lyle Friday afternoon after allegedly robbing an Austin gas station at knifepoint is in custody and facing a felony aggravated burglary charge in Mower County District Court.

Austin Chief of Police Dave McKichan stated in a news release that at approximately 1:50 p.m. Friday afternoon, an off-duty officer noticed a dark sedan parked near Ankeny’s on 12th St. SW.  The vehicle fit the description of one connected to a robbery at Cheer’s Liquor in Austin on June 19th and Chief McKichan stated that the occupant, who was seen heading toward the gas station also matched the description of the suspect in that robbery.  The off-duty officer called that information into dispatch and while that call was being made, McKichan stated that the gas station attendant who was the victim of a robbery at knifepoint was also calling in.

The first arriving Austin Police Department squad car encountered the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it, but Chief McKichan stated that the vehicle did not stop and fled at a high rate of speed.  The pursuit in the residential district was terminated in the interest of public safety, but McKichan reported that all other Austin Police Department units continued to monitor the situation and search for the suspect vehicle, which was located again on 4th St. NW at Interstate 90.  Officers again attempted to stop the vehicle which had exited onto I-90 heading eastbound, and Chief McKichan stated that two officers pursued the vehicle from I-90 onto U.S. Highway 218 south toward Lyle.

The suspect vehicle traveled to the city of Lyle and diverted from Highway 218 into the town.  Chief McKichan stated that the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.  A Mower County Sheriff’s Office Deputy also arrived at that time and, along with Austin Police and the Lyle Chief of Police established a perimeter to contain the suspect.  There were unoccupied homes within the perimeter and McKichan stated that law enforcement was concerned that the suspect may have entered one of them.  The Austin/Mower County Special Incident Response, or SIRT Team was called in to clear the residences, and McKichan reported that after clearing the houses and not finding the suspect, the rest of the perimeter was searched.  A Mower County Sheriff’s Deputy then located the suspect, 27-year old Adrick Mims of Rochester hiding in some bushes.  Chief McKichan stated that Mims had other existing warrants out for his arrest, and he was transported to the Mower County jail, where he is being held on a felony 1st degree aggravated burglary charge pending his first court appearance.