(Spencer)– A high speed chase late Friday night that started in Clay county and wound up in Palo Alto county has resulted in numerous charges against an Ayrshire man.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the pursuit started shortly before 11:30 p.m. when a deputy tried to stop a pickup being driven by 43-year-old Loren Berger of Ayrshire. Authorities say Berger was eastbound on Clay County Road B53 three miles east of Gillett Grove. He refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued. The chase continued into Palo Alto county where a second Clay county deputy was able to deploy stopsticks, which flattened both front tires on Berger’s vehicle. The pursuit continued with deputies from Palo Alto county joining in. The chase continued into the city of Ayrshire where Berger lost control at the intersection of 420th Street and 380th Avenue on the west edge of town. The vehicle left the roadway and travelled into a yard, where Berger bailed out. Berger was taken into custody following a short foot pursuit.
Berger was taken to the Clay county jail where he faces charges of eluding…a class “D” felony; operating while intoxicated…second offense and driving while barred…both aggravated misdemeanors; and four counts of failure to obey a traffic control device…simple misdemeanors.
Authorities say the eluding charge carries a felony status because Berger was intoxicated at the time.
Berger is being held in the Clay county jail on bond of 23,111.
