Driver admits to firing a gun during chase, court records say

    WILLMAR -- The driver arrested Wednesday after a high-speed chase admits to firing a gun during the chase.

    Oscar Flores, the driver in the chase that involved shots being fired at officers, admitted to shooting a .40-caliber gun, according to court records.

    Flores, 27, of Renville was arraigned Friday in Kandiyohi County District Court.

    He is facing one count of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree attempted murder - aiding and abetting, one count of receiving stolen property, two counts of receiving stolen property -firearms and one count of certain persons not to possess firearms.

    Flores' alleged accomplice, Enrique Villarreal, was arrested Wednesday in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was heading for Waco, Texas.

    Villarreal faces two counts of first-degree attempted murder - attempted, one count of first-degree attempted murder - aiding and abetting, one count of receiving stolen property and two counts of receiving stolen property - firearms.

    He waived extradition Thursday in Minnehaha County, according to the Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls. He will likely be arraigned Monday in Kandiyohi County. Deputies were transporting Villarreal on Friday.

    Villarreal and Flores allegedly stole a vehicle Tuesday from Sacred Heart, then dropped it off at a Clara City bar parking lot, where they broke into a 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup.

    Clara City Police Chief Ralph Bradley was called and he began chasing them, the complaint says. He was soon joined by Willmar police and Kandiyohi County sheriff 's deputies.

    Deputies threw out stop sticks -- strips of spikes intended to shred a car's tires -- but the defendants avoided them.

    As the chase went under the U.S. Highway 71 bridge over state Highway 23 at Willmar, Bradley radioed in that his car was being struck by something. Willmar Police Sgt. Glenn Negen also reported that he heard things hitting the top of his squad car, the complaint says.

    Flores exited onto U.S. Highway 12 and went west into Willmar, reaching speeds of 90 to 100 mph. He then turned north onto Lakeland Drive and went into Regency Estates East, where he stopped at a cul-de-sac.

    The passenger, Villarreal, got out and pointed a rifle at the officers, the complaint says. Negen and Bradley drew their guns. Bradley shot twice, Negen once, and Villarreal dropped his gun and ran, the complaint says.

    As Villarreal ran, Flores started driving again, going through lawns and around trailers, the complaint says.

    Negen and Bradley followed. Flores hit a tree and fled on foot. He stopped running but refused to get down on the ground, the complaint says. Deputy Sheriff Ross Ardoff pulled a revolver on Flores and ordered him to the ground, but Flores again refused.

    Then Flores came at Ardoff with his fists clenched and Ardoff shocked Flores with his stun gun, which knocked Flores to the ground. Flores was then arrested.

    In the truck, officers found a handgun between the two front seats and numerous shells on the seat and floor. Assistant Kandiyohi County Attorney Connie Crowell said officers had counted 17 shells.

    A canine did not find Villarreal.

    Officers did find a .22-caliber rifle with a scope and a magazine with a 25-round capacity on the ground where Villarreal had dropped it. Near the gun was a box of ammunition that was nearly half gone, the complaint says. They also found a .40-caliber handgun.

    Bradley's squad car had three bullet holes in it: one that entered the grill and ended up in the dashboard, one that creased the top of the car and one that hit the windshield and the roof of the car, the complaint says.

    In an interview with police, Flores admitted his role in stealing the two vehicles, court documents say. He said he and Villarreal had been drinking at the RenInn Motel in Renville on Tuesday and then went to Sacred Heart where they continued drinking. They then stole a truck and went to Clara City.

    They stole another truck once they got to Clara City, in which they found the two guns, the complaint says.

    Flores admitted to police that during the chase he fired the handgun out his window, the complaint says. He said Villarreal also fired the handgun out of the passenger window and said Villarreal also loaded the rifle and fired it out the window, the complaint says.

    Police later spoke to individuals in Renville who said they'd given Villarreal a ride to Granite Falls where he'd bought a ticket for Texas, the complaint says. He'd told the individuals that he'd been in a shooting in Willmar and needed to leave town, the complaint says.

    Police contacted Jefferson Lines, who said their bus would stop in Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls Police Officer Loren McManus told the Tribune that a detective from his office was contacted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Sioux Falls officers arrested Villarreal without incident.

Friday morning, Flores was calm and polite as he answered questions from Judge Donald Spilseth. Crowell asked that bail be set at $1 million. "He is an extreme flight risk and an extreme risk to public safety," she said. Flores said "I don't blame the prosecutor for what she's saying. I wish nothing on that officer." Spilseth set Flores' bail at $200,000.