The search for a man who bolted into a Pocahontas County quarry Tuesday night ended yesterday morning when deputies found him at a home north of Gilmore City.
Authorities say the incident began around 6:12 p.m. Tuesday, when Humboldt County dispatchers received a report of a man driving a 2020 Ram 2500 erratically and yelling at people in the 1900 mile of Birch Avenue. Deputies located the truck about a mile away, but the driver — later identified as 41‑year‑old Clayton Christian Nielsen of Gilmore City — was agitated and refused to cooperate.
As additional officers arrived, Nielsen allegedly backed into a Humboldt County patrol vehicle, causing minor damage, and then fled. Deputies pursued him into a nearby grass field and attempted to negotiate, but Nielsen took off again. A second chase continued through farm fields before he entered a heavily wooded quarry property in Pocahontas County, where he drove through dense timber and brush until his truck became disabled. He then abandoned the vehicle and ran into the woods, triggering a multi‑agency search.
Sheriff’s offices from Humboldt, Pocahontas, Kossuth, Webster, and Palo Alto counties, along with the Iowa State Patrol, drones, K‑9 units, Humboldt Ambulance and the Gilmore City Fire Department searched the area until about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, when darkness and rough terrain forced them to suspend operations.
Around 10 a.m. yesterday, deputies received a tip that Nielsen was at a rural property on 340th Street, about two-and-a-half miles north of Gilmore City. Deputies from Humboldt and Pocahontas counties, along with a Pocahontas Police Department officer, responded and took Nielsen into custody without incident at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Nielsen was arrested on a Humboldt County warrant and faces multiple charges, including:
- Three counts of assault on persons in certain occupations while using or displaying a dangerous weapon — Class C felonies
- Second‑degree criminal mischief — Class D felony
- Interference with official acts causing bodily injury — serious misdemeanor
- Eluding — serious misdemeanor
- Reckless driving — simple misdemeanor
His bond is set at $30,000 cash only. The Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office says additional charges related to the crimes committed in their county will be filed later.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office thanked the public for its cooperation during what they described as a rapidly evolving situation. They also reminded residents that even in generally safe communities, it’s important to lock homes and vehicles, remove keys from vehicles and safely secure firearms.
