WILLMAR (Updated 9:45 a.m.)-- Two alleged burglars, who fled at speeds in excess of 90 mph in a stolen vehicle, were apprehended late Wednesday night near Paynesville.
The men, Darren Wayne Williams, 42, of Minneapolis, and Scott Michael Milne, 27, of Rochester, are in the County Jail awaiting their first court appearance, according to a news release from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office.
The incident began with two burglary alarm complaints that came into the Kandiyohi County Communications Center within 40 minutes. The Willmar Police Department responded to an alarm at Lakeview Quick Mart, on Business 71, around 10:30 p.m. Officers found that entry had been gained into the business.
Around 11:10 p.m., the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office responded to an alarm at Eagle Lake Country Store, along U.S. 71 and State Highway 23. Officers found the front door glass smashed and the cash register and miscellaneous store items missing.
Around 11:20 p.m., a 911 call came in from an employee of the Country Stop, in New London, that someone stole her purse from her vehicle which was parked in the lot. The caller gave officers information about the vehicle that had pulled in alongside her vehicle at closing time.
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Officers attempted to locate the vehicle and around 11:30 p.m., a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle that was driving erratically while eastbound on State Highway 23 near the intersection of Highway 9. The vehicle increased its speed and the deputy pursued with lights and sirens. The chase reached speeds of more than 90 mph, and at the intersection with State Highway 55 in Paynesville, the suspect vehicle left the roadway and went west of Highway 55.
The chase continued until just past the intersection with State Highway 4, where the vehicle left the roadway and stopped in a ditch. The suspects fled and the deputy was able to apprehend the driver. The passenger was apprehended nearby without incident. He was transported by Paynesville Ambulance to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar for treatment of an ankle injury.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle, and the vehicle seen at the Country Stop in New London, were both stolen in Willmar.
Assisting the sheriff's office were the Stearns County Sheriff's Office, Paynesville Police, the Waite Park Police K-9 unit and the Minnesota State Patrol.
