×

Woman accused of leading officers on chase

Sharon Kobat

A woman who investigators say led officers on a pursuit Tuesday afternoon out of Fort Dodge was allegedly intoxicated.

The woman, identified as Sharon K. Kobat, 52, of Algonquin, Illinois, is charged with operating while under the influence, first offense, and eluding, both serious misdemeanors.

Trooper Justin Parman, of the Iowa State Patrol, said it was reported that Kobat had taken a friend’s 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee without permission.

The report also indicated that Kobat was likely intoxicated.

The vehicle was reportedly taken from a location in Fort Dodge.

Parman said he and other officers found Kobat in the vehicle on U.S. Highway 20 and tried to pull her over, but she refused.

The pursuit continued, with Kobat not only running a stop sign, but according to the criminal complaint filed against her, she also hit a Webster County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle.

Parman said the pursuit finally came to an end at U.S. Highway 20 and Hayes Avenue thanks to what he called a rolling roadblock. He described it as a technique where one patrol officer pulls in front of the vehicle being pursued, and another stays behind it, boxing the fleeing vehicle in.

“You slowly decrease the speed until they come to a stop,” Parman said.

Kobat was also charged with speeding, reckless driving and failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way, all simple misdemeanor traffic citations.

During her initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court Wednesday, Magistrate William Thatcher ordered Kobat held on $2,000 bond.

Kobat was also ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation.

Her preliminary hearing is Feb. 15.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today