Woman wields knife after chase
Staff writer
A Peabody woman led Peabody police, Marion and Harvey County deputies, and North Newton police on a chase Friday that ended with her allegedly wielding a knife at police on I-135 near Newton.
Karen N. Fleischer, Peabody, was reported with a knife at 3:18 p.m., but officers were able to arrest her without injury, according to police radio transmissions.
She allegedly began fleeing at 3 p.m. after an assault was reported at Dollar General in Peabody.
Driving a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country, she allegedly forced a semi onto the shoulder of the road on US-50 and swerved into oncoming traffic at high speeds.
Heavy construction was reported on I-135.
Traffic spikes set up to block access to the interstate were avoided, but North Newton police successfully stopped her shortly after she arrived on I-135.
Fleischer was arrested on suspicion of fleeing law enforcement and assault on an officer with a deadly weapon.
Additional charges for suspicion of battery relating to the initial incident at Dollar General are being filed by Peabody police, according to police chief Bruce Burke.
Fleischer was taken to Harvey County Detention Center.