Windom male nabbed by police after multi-county incident on Thursday

Multiple law enforcement agencies from the area were involved in the apprehension of a Windom male early Thursday in Watonwan County.

According to a press release from the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy with that office attempted to conduct a traffic stop at approximately 1:48 a.m. Thursday on a 2005 gray Ford F-150 displaying no license plates. Upon activation of the deputy’s emergency lights, the vehicle accelerated and failed to stop, initiating a pursuit. 

The pursuit continued through Watonwan County and into Cottonwood County. After a lengthy chase, the suspect drove into a field, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies and officers from multiple agencies responded to establish a perimeter. The Watonwan County K-9 unit was deployed to conduct a track from the abandoned vehicle, and the Minnesota State Patrol provided aerial support via fixed wing aircraft.

The suspect, a 48-year-old male from Windom, was located laying in a field and was taken into custody without further incident. A subsequent investigation determined the vehicle had been stolen from Jackson County, though it had not yet been reported at the time of the pursuit. The suspect was transported to the Watonwan County Jail where he remains in custody pending formal charges. 

The investigation is ongoing.  Assisting in the incident were the St James Police Department, Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office, Windom Police Department, Mountain Lake Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol.