(Estherville)—Emmet county authorities have released details into a high speed chase this past Saturday that went through three counties.
The Sheriff’s Office says it all started in the early morning hours when a citizen reported seeing a 2002 Dodge Caravan being driven erratically in the Swan Lake area. It was seen entering Armstrong from the south on Highway 15 a short time later. Armstrong police tried unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle, which headed east out of town on Highway 9. An Emmet County Sheriff’s deputy joined in the pursuit, which at times exceeded 110 miles-per-hour. It continued eastbound through Kossuth and into Winnebago county. Authorities were finally able to pull over the vehicle some 31 miles later near Thompson.
Upon investigating, authorities determined both occupants in the vehicle were two female juveniles who had been reported missing about three hours earlier from Forest Ridge.
The vehicle, owned by Mark Olson of rural Wallingford, had been stolen from his residence about a half mile from Forest Ridge sometime after the girls went missing.
Both teens were taken into custody and charged with theft of a motor vehicle. The driver was also charged with eluding a law enforcement vehicle, several counts of speeding and failure to have a driver’s license.
The two juveniles were transported to the Youth Emergency Services Center in Cherokee pending further action by juvenile court.
No injuries were reported in the pursuit.
