OLIVIA - The City of Olivia hosted its biggest rock star since Olivia Newton-John came for Corn Capital Days in 1978, but this latest visitor arrived unwillingly and slipped out of town quietly after a one-night stay in the local jail.
Wesley Reid Scantlin, 42, vocalist and rhythm guitar player with the band Puddle of Mudd, posted a bond for $50,000 bail in district court in Olivia Monday morning. He had spent the night in the Renville County Jail in Olivia after being taken into custody around 4 a.m. Sunday.
Renville County filed charges against Scantlin, of Wood Hills, California, after an allegedly intoxicated Scantlin led a sheriff's officer on a high speed chase approaching 100 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 212 starting at 3:45 a.m. Sunday.
Scantlin faces a felony charge of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, and two gross misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. The criminal complaint alleges he had a .310 blood alcohol level, or nearly four times the legal limit, when he provided a breath sample for a preliminary breath test at the arrest site. After consulting with an attorney, he refused to submit to testing of his breath, blood or urine when in custody.
Renville County Attorney David Torgelson said that Scantlin made his first court appearance Monday morning. He arrived at the hearing with an attorney from the Twin Cities and a bail bondsman. He was freed after posting a bond after the brief hearing.
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Torgelson has been county attorney since his election in 1998 and has been with the county attorney's office since 1996. As far as he can recall, Scantlin represents the first rock star he's faced in a Renville County courtroom.
Scantlin's arrest has attracted widespread attention on media sites, but Torgelson said there were no apparent fans of the musician present during the courtroom appearance.
Renville County's Sheriff's Sergeant Doug Best was on duty in Bird Island around 3:45 a.m. Sunday when he observed a Lincoln sedan with Minnesota plates eastbound on Highway 212 exceeding the 30 miles per hour speed limit, according to the criminal complaint. The officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it continued east in a 60 mph zone.
As the vehicles approached the City of Hector, the suspect's vehicle turned around in the middle of the road. Sergeant Best activated his emergency light, but the vehicle accelerated past the squad car and began traveling westbound on Highway 212. Both vehicles accelerated to approximately 100 mph before slowing down.
The driver of the Lincoln stopped in the area of County Road 16. He was identified as Wesley Scantlin. The officer reported that he slurred his words, had bloodshot eyes, and emitted a strong odor of alcohol.
He was taken into custody and placed in the Renville County Jail.
Olivia hosted its annual Corn Capital celebration over the weekend, but that's not likely what brought this rock singer to the area. The StarTribune reported that Puddle of Mudd performed at the Halfway Jam in Royalton over the weekend. Its website lists Puddle of Mudd as among the Friday night performers.
The Star Tribune and other news organizations report that Scantlin has had previous troubles with the law. He was arrested for domestic violence in 2013 and had had previous arrests for drugs and fighting.
