Initial traffic violation pursuit leads to additional charges ...

Sunday, October 30 at approximately 4:14 p.m. Waukon Police officers were near the intersection of Main Street and Spring Avenue when a car drove through a red stop light turning from Spring Avenue. The car was clocked being operated at 37 mph in a 20 mph speed zone. A short pursuit ensued on West Street SW. The driver of the vehicle did strike the curb at a high rate of speed before striking a parked car (at right in above photo), pushing the parked car at least 90 feet. The vehicle then collided with a building (pictured above at left) before coming to a complete stop.

The driver of the vehicle, 35-year-old Leslie Dean Ashbacher, Jr. (pictured in photo inset above) of Waukon, was arrested and charged with eluding, reckless and careless driving, and several traffic violations. Officers were informed shortly after the incident that Ashbacher was threatening someone in an apartment building with a sword, which was also located and seized from the vehicle. Further charges are still pending. The Waukon Police Department was assisted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Submitted photos.