UPDATE: Okoboji, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — We have new details this morning about that carjacking that occurred last Monday in Okoboji.
As we previously reported, a pregnant woman’s 2002 GMC Sierra was taken from the parking lot at Lake Okoboji Resort – formerly Arrowood. She was pushed or fell out of the vehicle and received serious injuries when she was run over. We now know that she had also been threatened with a knife.
27 year old Vaughn Harris and 40 year old Jessica Nordrum outran local authorities but were arrested in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. We have now learned from Minnesota authorities that the arrest was made after the truck crashed into a ditch. Harris was overdosing on fentanyl and was taken to a hospital where he was kept for four days before being transferred to the jail in Blue Earth.
The two face charges of 1st degree robbery, first degree theft, assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing serious injury, and operating without the owner’s consent in Iowa. Nordrum was charged with aiding an offender avoid arrest in Minnesota. The Blue Earth County jail roster indicates Harris is still incarcerated, Nordrum is not. Harris has also been charged with two counts of driving under the influence in Blue Earth County and was served two outstanding warrants out of LeSuer County Minnesota.
previous news story:
Stolen Vehicle in Dickinson County
Spirit Lake, IA (Northwest Iowa Now) — A woman was seriously injured after her vehicle was stolen by two individuals last Monday in Dickinson County.
According to the police report, the Okoboji Police Department was called to Lake Okoboji Resort (formerly known as Arrowwood), where officers were informed of a blue truck that left the parking lot after two suspects had forceibly taken the vehicle from a pregnant female. After the victim fell out of the truck, she was run over on the right side of her body causing serious injury.
Police say the suspects were able to evade Lakes Area law enforcement. A stolen vehicle report was issued. Later that afternoon the 2002 GMC Sierra was seen in Blue Earth County Minnesota where it led officers on a pursuit. Authorities were eventually able to stop and arrest the suspects, identified as 27-year-old Vaughn Harris and 40-year-old Jessica Nordrum, both of Minneapolis.
Harris and Nordrum were both charged with several crimes, including Robbery in the 1st Degree, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Theft in the 1st Degree, Assault Causing Serious Injury, and Operating without Owner’s Consent. Both suspects are being held in the Blue Earth County Jail.
Assisting the Okoboji Police Department was Spirit Lake Police, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Arnolds Park Police, Milford Police, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office.
