Juveniles arrested after police chase

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- An unidentified juvenile male suspect that police say fled a New Ulm police officer Friday was taken into custody later that day.

The juvenile, whose name police did not release, was arrested at an apartment complex in New Ulm hours after the chase happened.

The chase began when a New Ulm police officer noticed a car with only one headlight near New Ulm Senior High School and attempted to make a stop near 8th South and Payne streets.

Instead, a chase ensued. The car left city limits and headed south on Brown County Road 13, New Ulm police said Friday.

The car then "headed south and then east on a number of different county roads," said an NUPD press release.

Deputy sheriffs from Brown and Watonwan counties helped with the chase and used "stop sticks" at the intersection of Brown County roads 13 and 24, about one mile west of Searles. They also brought along a K-9 unit from Watonwan County to help in the search.

Cpl. Dean Barstad said he was unsure why the juveniles decided to flee.

As its front tire began to deflate, the car in question traveled into a nearby field, police said, and the five people inside continued to flee on foot once it stopped. The K-9 unit was able to get a scent off the car, but had trouble because of the amount of rain that fell and was unsucessful at finding the other four juveniles.

However, because one of the four juveniles stayed near the car, police were able to learn of the others' whereabouts from that person, said NUPD Commander Erv Weinkauf.

Police later called the remaining juvenile's parents, and the other three came to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center, where they were later questioned and released.

Weinkauf said the fifth juvenile fled because of an outstanding arrest and detain order. The juvenile was arrested at the apartment of a friend.

Weinkauf said the case is still under investigation and will be forwarded to the Brown County Attorney's Office for consideration of charges.