BREAKING NEWS: SUV leads police on chase through two counties
A white Cadillac Escalade that was reportedly stolen in Owatonna came to rest in the ditch and front yard of a residence on U.S. Highway 218 just north of Austin. Three people inside the SUV were taken into custody; no injuries were reported. Staff photo by Kay Fate
A chase that started with a report of a stolen vehicle in Owatonna ended in Mower County late Wednesday afternoon with three people in custody and at least four cars damaged.
The initial call came in to dispatch at 4:51 p.m., reporting a disturbance in the 400 block of 18th Street SE. The caller said he had spotted his cousin’s 2010 Cadillac Escalade – which had reportedly been stolen – and tried to block the SUV with his own vehicle.
The driver of the Escalade allegedly rammed the caller’s car, then went up on the sidewalk and struck another vehicle nearby.
The occupants were described as three black males who “looked very young,” the caller said.
The SUV turned south onto Steele County Road 45, then east onto U.S. Highway 14.
The driver exited onto U.S. Highway 218 southbound as law enforcement caught up to him.
By 5:04, the SUV and law enforcement were on U.S. 218 through Blooming Prairie, where the suspect vehicle then sideswiped a car exiting the parking lot of the Casey’s General Store. The speed through town was about 50 mph.
The driver nearly lost control at the Dodge/Mower Road, but was able to correct and continue southbound on U.S. 218; one of the officers giving chase said the SUV was “losing tires here pretty fast,” and was down to three tires by 5:08 p.m.
The occupants of the vehicle were throwing items from the vehicle, some of which appeared to be clothing.
Deputies in Mower County were contacted to deploy spike strips, which were set up just south of Lansing Corners. The SUV struck the spikes at 5:12 p.m., flattening both passenger side tires, and traveled about a mile farther before entering the ditch and front yard in the 25000 block of U.S. 218.
The three occupants were arrested without incident.
No injuries were immediately reported.
Responding to the scene were deputies from Steele and Mower counties, Blooming Prairie Police officers and members of the Minnesota State Patrol.
