Three Different Suspects Flee Dodge County Deputies Over Labor Day Weekend
Dodge Center, MN (KROC-AM News) - Three different suspects attempted to flee deputies in Dodge County over the long holiday weekend, and two of the drivers traveled at speeds over 100 mph.
Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose said one of the incidents occurred early Saturday when a deputy observed a vehicle with expired registration enter Highway 14 westbound from the Highway 56 north bridge around 12:32 a.m.
The deputy reported pacing the vehicle at over 100 mph while attempting to get close before attempting a traffic spot. At one point, the suspect vehicle quickly slowed down and took the Highway 56 south exit, and then pulled over. The deputy activated his emergency lights and that is when the deputy saw the driver exit the vehicle and start running into a soybean field.
After a 90-minute search deputies were unable to locate the driver. The deputy was later able to positively identify the driver by photograph as one of the registered owners of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed and processed and multiple charges are pending.
A second suspect driver reportedly topped 100 mph in an attempt to flee deputies on Monday night.
A deputy attempted to stop a westbound vehicle on Highway 14 near Dodge County at 120th Ave for numerous traffic violations observed. The suspect vehicle fled, passed traffic, and reached speeds up to 100 mph.
The pursuit continued into Steele County and into the city of Owatonna where an Owatonna Police Officer deployed stop sticks at Austin Road, west of Highway 218. The suspect vehicle hit the stop sticks and continued into Owatonna where the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Hoffman Drive and I-35.
39-year-old Robert Morgan of Faribault was arrested and was charged in Dodge County Court Tuesday and was formally charged with speeding 90mph in a 65 mph zone, Carless Driving, 5th Degree drug possession, and Fleeing police in a motor vehicle.
Bail was set at $10,000 unconditional or $5,000 conditional to include abstaining from alcohol or controlled substances and staying away from bars and liquor stores.
Sheriff Rose said narcotics impairment was a factor in the incident.
A third suspect that reportedly fled deputies in Dodge County over the weekend was on Sunday.
The Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspected intoxicated man driving an ATV in the area of 690th Street and 240th Ave.
A deputy located the ATV and activated her emergency lights. That is when the ATV fled down 670th Street and then 220th Ave. While approaching 680th Street, the deputy pulled up next to the ATV, opened the window, and yelled at the driver to stop the ATV.
The driver, identified as 21-year-old Hunter Pfeifer of rural Blooming Prairie, complied and stopped the ATV.
Pfeifer refused to provide a preliminary breath test and was subsequently arrested for fleeing and driving under the influence.
He appeared in Dodge county Court Tuesday morning charged with failing to keep to the right, 4th-degree DWI, and Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle. His bail was set at $12,000 and ordered to remain law-abiding, abstain from alcohol and controlled substances, and stay away from bars and liquor stores.