BREAKING NEWS: Man charged in Owatonna hit and run

A 36-year-old Owatonna man has been charged in connection with the hit and run Tuesday night in Owatonna.

Scott Pfeifer faces a felony criminal vehicular operation-substantial bodily harm and two misdemeanors.

Surveillance video from a local gas station led authorities to Pfeifer on Wednesday.

According to police, Pfeifer fled the scene of a hit and run at North Oak Avenue and Rose Street around 9:07 p.m. Tuesday. A 2-year-old was airlifted to Rochester with severe injuries. The child was being held by Carly Simmons, who was also injured. They were crossing the street when the crash happened.

On May 22, detectives pieced together a sequence of events to identify the vehicle involved and Pfeifer as the suspect. Police watched camera footage from a local business. In it, they saw the vehicle leaving the area. Police said the vehicle ran a red light at Rose Street and Hoffman Drive and turned southbound on Hoffman. The vehicle was picked up on surveillance systems by two other businesses before arriving at a gas station.

Police said Pfeifer went into the store, purchased only a car wash and washed his vehicle immediately.

Following a brief search, detectives located Pfeifer and the 2017 dark blue Honda Ridgeline parked in the 100 block of Vine Street West. As the vehicle was being monitored, Pfeifer came out to the vehicle and was detained by police. After he was interviewed, Pfeifer was arrested.

Pfeifer admitted to police that he was in the area and thought he hit garbage and not a person.