UPDATE: Details of wrong-way car chase, crashes on Highway 52
(ABC 6 News) – Olmsted County deputies arrested 45-year-old Jaden Townsend Friday evening, following a car chase and crash.
According to the OCSO, at about 12:25 p.m., deputies encountered Townsend in a hotel parking lot.
Townsend and a woman in the car with him each had arrest warrants, according to the OCSO.
Townsend allegedly backed into a squad car, accelerated away, and drove into the wrong lane against traffic while fleeing the deputies.
He later joined the correct lane of travel, and deputies chased him to Highway 52 at 55th Street NW, where he struck another car.
According to court documents filed Monday, Nov. 25, Olmsted County deputies then rammed their cars into Townsend’s.
“Deputy Gengler rammed the vehicle on the driver’s side. Sgt. Chambers disabled the vehicle from the rear,” court documents read.
Townsend was officially charged with fleeing police.
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(ABC 6 News) — A male and female were arrested on Friday in Rochester following a crash involving an Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office squad car on Hwy 52 at 55th Street around 12:30 p.m.
According to Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, OCSO was alerted to individuals carrying arrest warrants in the Twin Cities with leads that they were in Rochester. Deputies located the vehicle, a silver Chevy Tahoe, but when they approached to make an arrest, the individuals took off in the vehicle and hit an OCSO squad car.
OCSO then began a pursuit of the Tahoe, but because it was driving on the wrong side of the road and swerving around cars, they backed off for fears of public safety.
Eventually, the Tahoe headed towards the Hwy 52 off ramp at 55th St NW where it crashed into a civilian car before driving into the ditch and getting stuck.
OCSO arrested both people, and they were taken to the hospital for evaluation where they remain as of Friday evening, according to Sheriff Torgerson.
Once cleared, they will be held in Olmsted County Jail.
RPD also assisted in the arrest.