Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Suspect who fled on four wheeler is held in Missouri



A suspect driving a four wheeler who evaded
Lester Prairie Police July 3 is being held in Missouri following
a two-week crime spree across four states.

The 21-year-old Montrose man, who was already
on probation for earlier offenses, started a series of misdemeanor
and felony offenses July 3 in Wright County.

His name cannot be released until he is charged
in Minnesota, said Lester Prairie Police Chief Bob Carlson.

In Wright County, the suspect allegedly stole
a 4×4 All Terrain Vehicle and then proceeded to Lester Prairie.

After fleeing Officer Mark Thiry, he continued
south to Jackson County, Minn., near the Iowa boarder, where
he dumped the four wheeler, and stole a second one.

His next reported crime happened in Miami
County in Kansas, where he admitted to police that he fled from
police in Lester Prairie on a stolen four wheeler.
The suspect confessed to police in Miami County after being read
his Miranda warning, the report said.

The suspect committed various crimes in Miami
County, according to the report.
He was caught by Drexler police for offering a forged check and
was driving the stolen four wheeler from Jackson County.

He is currently in jail in Cass County, Mo.
on a $10,000 bail bond. He also reportedly stole a cell phone
and check book on his way through Iowa.

The six police departments may have never
known about the spree, except for some detective work done by
the Lester Prairie Police Department.

Following the incident, Thiry spoke with to
some residents and was given a name.
Thiry contacted the suspect’s mother and was informed that the
suspect was on probation in Wright County.

Thiry contacted Wright County and was told
the four wheeler was stolen.
The mother called the Lester Prairie Police Department to say
that the suspect had called her from Missouri where he was detained
by police.

His mother gave Carlson the name of the detective
and agency that has him in custody.

Carlson contacted Drexler police, who faxed
him a copy of the police report. The detective informed Carlson
that the stolen four wheeler recovered was out of Jackson County,
he said.

Carlson then contacted Jackson County to obtain
information on the four wheeler stolen in Wright County. He was
told it was recovered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department,
and that the owner had retrieved it already, Carlson said.

The Sheriff from Jackson County e-mailed Carlson
a picture of the four wheeler and Thiry was able to get positive
identifications from people who saw the four wheeler July 3.

When Carlson contacted the owner of the stolen
four wheeler, he was informed that the rear fenders had been
painted after it was stolen and he had pressure washed the paint
off, Carlson said.

When Carlson contacted Drexler police again,
he asked if the suspect had said anything about the incident
in Lester Prairie, Carlson said.

Carlson was told that a detective in Miami
County may have some information for him, he said. That’s when
he was informed of the confession to fleeing, Carlson said.

Before the suspect can be brought to Minnesota
to face charges of felony fleeing a peace officer with a motor
vehicle, and misdemeanor charges of driving with a revoked license
and reckless driving, he must be charged.

If found guilty, he must serve his time in
each location before the next police department can take action
against him, Carlson said.

“He has to work his way back up through
the states the way he came,” Carlson said.

The suspect allegedly told an officer that
he was on his way to Alabama, looking for a long-lost relative,
Carlson said.

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