Chisago Co. sheriff: Chase suspect hit 140 mph before arrest
Authorities in Chisago County are celebrating a successful operation against a suspect involved in a potentially dangerous high-speed pursuit.
This weekend on its Facebook page, the local sheriff's office posted a blow-by-blow account of what happened when the chase ended up in Chisago County — along with pictures of the aftermath:
The Dec. 21 chase, involving a possible stolen vehicle, began with a "west metro police department," which ended up terminating the pursuit for public safety reasons.
"It was reported to us that the vehicle was traveling at 140mph without law enforcement chasing it," the post says.
The Chisago County Sheriff's Office, along with North Branch police, decided to take up the pursuit "because the driver’s actions posed a risk to our public."
When an attempt to catch up with the car on I-35 failed, deputies and officers made their move in Rush City, where the vehicle had exited.
They coordinated a plan to "box the vehicle in," and despite another escape attempt by the driver, authorities were able to force the car off the road and into a ditch outside a Minnesota state prison.
"Pro tip: even if you are going to prison, you have to go through our county jail first," the sheriff's office joked. "It was nice of the suspect to try and cut out the middle man, but it doesn't work that way!"
The driver was taken into custody on the spot, and authorities seized a "fully loaded stolen handgun," a "large amount of meth" and approximately $3200 in cash.
It turns out the suspect had a felony warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and another felony warrant for terroristic threats.
"The driver was given a one way, all expenses paid trip to our county jail where we greeted him with open arms," the post concludes.
Authorities have not identified the suspect.