30 YEAR-OLD LEVI SCOTT THATE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY FOR FLEEING A POLICE OFFICER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AFTER A VEHICLE PURSUIT IN MARTIN  COUNTY. THE CHARGE CARRIES A MAX PENALTY OF 3 YEARS AND A DAY IN PRISON AND $5,000 FINE IF CONVICTED ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. JUST AFTER 5 PM ON MONDAY OF  THIS WEEK FAIRMONT POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO A BUSINESS ON  FAIRMONT’S NORTH  SIDE WHERE A PERSON WITH FELONY WARRANTS WAS LOCATED. WHILE OFFICERS RESPONDED THE  30 YEAR OLD MALE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY  STOLE A VEHICLE BELONGING TO A FEMALE PARTY AND FLED THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED BY AN OFFICER WHO  ATTEMPTED TO  STOP  THE  VEHICLE WHICH  THEN  FLED WITH  OTHER OFFICERS IN PURSUIT. THE  PURSUIT LEFT THE CITY LIMITS  AND AND TRAVELED EAST ON I-90 AND  NORTH ON  MARTIN COUNTY  ROAD 53 AND THEN INTO  SEVERAL  FIELDS TO  AVOID STOP  STICKS THAT HAD BEEN  DEPLOYED. AT AROUND 5:45 PM  OFFICERS USED A PURSUIT INTERVENTION  TECHNIQUE TO  END THE PURSUIT  IN THE AREA  OF 125TH  STREET AND 230TH  AVENUE  IN MARTIN  COUNTY.

THATE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO FLEE ON  FOOT.THERE WERE NO INURIES AS A RESULT OF THE  PURSUIT AND MINOR DAMAGE TO TWO FAIRMONT POLICE SQUAD CARS AS A RESULT OF THE INTERVENTION  TECHNIQUE. MARTIN  COUNTY  SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TRUMAN POLICE AND THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL ASSISTED THE FAIRMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE CHASE

Nickolas Hans Willer, 30, has been charged with fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of three years and one day in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Willer has also been charged with drug possession in the fifth degree, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine after a police chase on Tuesday afternoon according to the criminal complaint. A sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop the vehicle. Willer swerved to avoid the officer and accelerated heavily as he left the populated area of Fairmont into the rural setting. Willer continued, with speeds reaching over 100 mph.

Eventually, the deputy was able to disable Willer’s vehicle.

The officer positioned his squad car in front of Willer’s vehicle. The officer exited his squad car, drew his service weapon and pointed it at Willer, ordering him to show his hands. Willer did not comply and instead exited the vehicle to flee on foot into a field.

The officer released his K-9 dog to purse Willer. Willer attempted to evade the K-9, but was apprehended and arrested. Willer was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont for treatment of minor injuries according to the police report.