WATERLOO - A Waterloo man has been sent to prison for twice leading police on chases in stolen vehicles.

District Court Judge Thomas Bower sentenced 28-year-old Willie Smith, also known as Christopher Hunter, to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts each of first-degree theft and eluding.

The charges stem from two pursuits that happened within a month of each other. In one, the vehicle's GPS device was sending updates on its location. In the other, Smith sped through Lafayette Park on Christmas, almost hitting children.

He also pleaded to operating while intoxicated and assault on a peace officer in connection with the cases.

The first theft happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 3 when he stole a Chevrolet Silverado truck from a Prospect Avenue home.

The truck was equipped with the NorthStar navigation system, so authorities were able to track its position after the owner discovered it missing.

Smith briefly stopped for police but then sped off, dragging an officer who approached him.

He finally parked the truck on Leavitt Street and fled on foot, and police found he had shed his clothing during his escape. They found his identification card in the clothes, according to court records.

He was let out of jail on pre-trial release Nov. 3.

Then on Christmas day, Smith was spotted driving a GMC Suburban that had been reported stolen from Eastside Motors during a burglary to the business.

What followed was a 20-minute chase through the city that ended when he drove into a yard on Fowler Street.

Smith took off running, and ran into a tree, police said. An officer fired a Taser at him, but the probes apparently missed him.

He was caught a short time later.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.