BELGRADE — Two juvenile males were arrested after a multi-city vehicle pursuit around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the Belgrade/Brooten Police Department.
The two juveniles had fled a group home in Wright County and stole a side-by-side UTV. Law enforcement was able to locate the stolen UTV but law enforcement believes the juveniles stole another vehicle in the same area and that was the vehicle involved in the pursuit.
The juveniles are awaiting charges in both Stearns and Wright counties.
A Belgrade/Brooten officer first noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed at around 10:40 p.m. on state Highway 55 in Brooten. The officer tried to catch up to the vehicle, but the vehicle did not stop for the officer’s lights and siren.
The vehicle continued on Highway 55 through Belgrade, Regal and into Paynesville, where a Stearns County sheriff’s deputy set up spike strips which successfully spiked three of four tires on the vehicle.
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The vehicle, now with three flat tires, turned onto Old Lake Road and stopped. The two occupants then fled on foot.
A Belgrade/Brooten officer engaged in a foot pursuit for one of the suspects but was unable to catch the suspect in the woods.
K-9 units from the Avon and Willmar police departments and a Sauk Centre police drone operator then responded to assist.
The Sauk Centre police drone used a loudspeaker to advise the suspects that they were under arrest and K-9 units would be sent in to look for them.
A short while later, a juvenile male emerged from the woods and surrendered.
After multiple warnings, Willmar and Avon K-9 units were sent in to track the suspected driver, who was still in the woods.
After about 20 minutes, the suspected driver was located by the K-9 units and he surrendered.
Agencies assisting in the incident were the Paynesville Police Department, Stearns County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Eden Valley Police Department, Sauk Centre Police Department (drone), Willmar Police Department (K-9), and Avon Police Department (K-9).
