A Des Moines woman was arrested on three felony charges in Marion County this weekend.

At approximately 6:15 am Sunday Morning, a Marion County sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a Saturn Vue for not having proper license plate illumination and not displaying a license plate. The vehicle, driven by 21 year old Gracie Mehl of Des Moines, allegedly failed to stop for the deputy and accelerated at a high rate of speed eastbound on Highway G28. During the pursuit, the deputy alleged that Mehl reached speeds of 82 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. Mehl continued eastbound until reaching the 1900 block of Highway 92, where she stopped the vehicle, turned around, and drove back eastbound. She allegedly continued eastbound on Highway G28 at a high rate of speed until reaching the intersection of Fifield Road and Washington Street in Pella, where the vehicle lost control, went into a ditch, and became disabled. 

Mehl then exited the vehicle, but reentered to retrieve a firearm. The deputy talked Mehl down and placed her under arrest without incident. The firearm retrieved at the scene had been reported stolen out of Des Moines. After conducting a search, the deputy claimed to have located a small vial containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The deputy also learned that Mehl did not possess a valid driver’s license, had active arrest warrants, and was a convicted felon.

Mehl is charged with three Class D felonies for eluding – speed exceeding 25 mph over the limit, dominion or control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, and trafficking in stolen weapons – first offense. Mehl is also charged with a simple misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance – first offense, six scheduled violations, and one non-scheduled violation.