High-speed chase ends in arrest

   A high-speed chase involving Holyoke police officers ended with the driver in custody and two hostages released Thursday, Aug. 17, at approximately 3:45 p.m.
    Officers of the Holyoke Police Department were working traffic enforcement in the areas of the school zones, as it was the first day of school.
    During that time, Sgt. Mark Werts viewed a vehicle and clocked its speed at nearly double the school zone limit. Upon attempting to contact the vehicle, it refused to stop. The vehicle traveled north on Interocean Avenue, then east on Denver Street (Highway 6).
    The vehicle was pursued by Werts and Officer Joe Marcum into Nebraska. The vehicle reached speeds at over 100 miles per hour and at times crossed into the westbound lanes of the highway.
    About 6 miles into Nebraska, the vehicle’s engine began smoking, and the vehicle stopped. At that time, the driver, Hayden Rodenbaugh, 18, of Colorado Springs, was taken into custody.
    Two passengers in the vehicle, both from Nebraska, told officers that Rodenbaugh had a weapon in the vehicle and they were being held hostage.
    Officers recovered a loaded 20-gauge shotgun from the vehicle that had been altered (barrel sawed short and serial number filed).
    The shotgun has been sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing.
    Charges recommended to the district attorney include speeding, reckless driving, felony vehicular eluding, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree kidnapping.