A 25-year old River Falls man was taken into custody Monday morning, after leading local law enforcement on a high speed chase.
According to a press release issued by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, just after 12 a.m. a caller reported a suspicious vehicle parked at the dead-end on 14th Street in the City of Merrill. A deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle and when he attempted to stop it, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed.
Lincoln County deputies, along with officers from the Merrill Police Department engaged in a chase with the vehicle eastbound on County Road G in the Town of Pine River, at speeds in excess of 100 mph. During the chase, the pursuing deputy observed a backpack get tossed from the vehicle, which was later located and found to contain drug paraphernalia and a large amount of money.
The fleeing vehicle stopped at Town Line Road and the driver fled into the woods on foot. K9 Deputy Nina arrived on-scene and began tracking the suspect into the woods. The suspect was found about a mile into the woods, hidden under dirt, bark and leaves.
The man was brough to the Lincoln County Jail where he was charged with felony fleeing and eluding an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, probation violations and several traffic violations including operating after revocation.