Just before 5:00 p.m. on Friday evening the Stanton County Sheriff’s office was contacted by an off-duty Norfolk police officer that he had just observed a wanted felon driving on Hwy 24 towards Stanton. The felon was identified as Kyler Jahnke, 21, of Norfolk and he was wanted out of Madison County for failure to appear for sentencing on a felony drug conviction. Information was also relayed to use caution when dealing with him. Shortly after the notification, Sheriff Mike Unger observed the vehicle on Hwy 24 entering Stanton and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near 14th Street and Veterans Avenue (Hwy 24). The vehicle slowed as it was pulling over and then accelerated away at high speeds through a residential area and then looped back onto Hwy 24 and began travelling West at more than 100 mph. After two miles the vehicle then suddenly turned onto a county road and then back through the ditch back onto Hwy 24 and began travelling back towards Stanton at high speeds, during which time suspected contraband was observed being thrown out a car window. The vehicle continued into Stanton and again turned off of highway 24 at 14th Street and accelerated down Douglas Street to 10th Street and then traveled north violating numerous traffic laws. The vehicle appeared to lose one tire as he sped north through the downtown area of Stanton on Hwy 57 and then continued north onto the Ridge Road where after several hundred yards the vehicle was forced off the roadway into a ditch. At that time, Jahnke and a female passenger Kristen Bliss, 24, of Norfolk were taken into custody at gunpoint. Suspected methamphetamine was located in the suspect vehicle and also found along Hwy 24 where it was observed being thrown from the vehicle. Both suspects face felony charges and were jailed pending the setting of bond. Jahnke faces additional charges to the original Madison County Warrant, of felony Operation of a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, felony Tampering with Evidence, Speeding 109/50. Bliss faces felony charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tampering with Evidence and a Probation Violation. Bliss also had a felony arrest warrant out of Pierce County for a Drug Violation. She also recently got out of the Stanton County jail after serving a lengthy sentence for a drug violation.
