High speed pursuit ends in arrest in Chase County

    A mid-afternoon high speed chase involving Holyoke, Colo., police officers ended in Chase County with the driver in custody and two hostages released last Thursday.
    Officers of the Holyoke Police Department were working traffic enforcement in the areas of the school zones, as it was the first day of school.
    During that time Sgt. Mark Werts viewed a vehicle and clocked its speed at nearly double the school zone limit. Upon attempting to contact the vehicle, it refused to stop. The vehicle traveled north on Interocean Avenue, then east on Denver Street (Highway 6).
    The vehicle was pursued by Werts and Officer Joe Marcum into Nebraska. The vehicle reached speeds at over 100 mph and at times crossed in the westbound lanes of the highway.
    About six miles into Nebraska, the vehicle’s engine began smoking, and the vehicle stopped. At that time, the driver, Hayden Rodenbaugh, 18, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was taken into custody.
    Two passengers in the vehicle, both from Nebraska, told officers that Rodenbaugh had a weapon in the vehicle and they were being held hostage.
    Officers recovered a loaded 20 gauge shotgun from the vehicle that had been altered (barrel sawed short and serial number filed).
    The shotgun has been sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing.
    Charges recommended to the Colorado District Attorney include speeding, reckless driving, felony vehicular eluding, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon and two counts of second degree kidnapping.
    Once the vehicle entered Chase County, Sheriff’s Deputies Mike Dukes and Justin Mueller, along with the State Patrol, assisted.
    Chief Deputy Dukes said they arrived on scene after the suspect was apprehended. Officers assisted with acquiring a tow truck and remained on scene until the tow truck and Colorado officers left.