Teen leads law officers on high-speed pursuit
On May 5, at approximately 12:05 a.m., while searching for a suspect from a fight in Fairfax, a deputy from the Renville County Sheriff’s Office noticed a vehicle that did not have its lights on and was not stopping for stop signs.
The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled and a pursuit was initiated, which went westbound on Minnesota Highway 19 from Fairfax. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 MPH and exhibited other dangerous driving behavior. The suspect ultimately crashed the vehicle while attempting to negotiate a curve on Highway 19 in the city of Franklin, and then attempted to flee the crash scene on foot. The suspect was taken into custody almost immediately and was ultimately identified as the same suspect originally sought in connection with the fight in Fairfax.
The vehicle involved had been stolen in the city of Fairfax. The suspect, a 17-year-old male, was transported to the Renville County Hospital in Olivia for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and is currently being held at Prairie Lakes Youth Program in Willmar.
Agencies assisting the Renville County Sheriff’s Office with the pursuit included the Fairfax Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, North Memorial Ambulance Service and Franklin Ambulance Service.