Prison time for man who stole van, led police on chase
Published 7:53 am Friday, January 21, 2011
A Rochester man involved in a 2.5 mile pursuit through town in December was sentenced to 30 months in prison Thursday in Mower County Court.
Brett John Dennis, 23, was convicted of two charges of third-degree burglary; as part of his sentence he must pay $1,013.07 in restitution. Six other charges were dropped when he entered into a plea agreement.
The theft occurred Monday, Dec. 20, around 11 p.m. when Dennis allegedly entered an open garage in the 2700 block of Ninth Avenue Southwest and began driving away in a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country. The vehicle was unlocked and had the keys in it.
The homeowner observed Dennis driving away and alerted the Austin Police Department of the theft. An officer attempted to make a traffic stop on the stolen van when it appeared stuck in the snow at 28th Street and 16th Avenue Southwest, but Dennis allegedly took off running and got into a white Buick that Juan Ramirez, 27, was driving.
The two men led police on a 2.5 mile pursuit down 16th Avenue Southwest, which was unplowed at the time, to 12th Street Southwest and turned west on Eighth Avenue Southwest.
Officers were able to arrest Dennis and Ramirez when their car went into a snowbank at 21st Street and Seventh Avenue Southwest.
After his arrest, Ramirez told police he and Dennis had originally come to Austin from Brownsdale to “buy drugs.” He said he dropped off Dennis at a friend’s house and returned to find him with a pair of boots and other “stuff.” He then dropped off Dennis at another friend’s house and drove around while he waited.
Ramirez then apparently spotted a van stuck in the snow, and when he stopped to help he saw Dennis was in the driver’s seat. Dennis told him his “friend” had loaned him the van, according to a criminal complaint.
Police then showed up and Ramirez knew Dennis had done something wrong. He attempted to leave the scene, but Dennis allegedly demanded to be let into the car.
Ramirez said he was “scared for his life” and thought Dennis might have a gun.
Ramirez has yet to be sentenced.