Man gets 21 months in jail for car chase through Austin
Published 8:58 am Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A Stewartville man whose role in a December vehicle theft that turned into a 2.5-mile pursuit through Austin was sentenced to 21 months in prison last week.
Juan Ramirez, 27, was convicted of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. Two charges of first-degree burglary and two charges of third-degree burglary were dropped when Ramirez entered into a plea agreement in Mower County Court.
The incident began around 11 a.m. on Dec. 20 when Brett Dennis, 23, allegedly entered an open garage in the 2700 block of Ninth Avenue Southwest and drove away in a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country. The vehicle was unlocked and had the keys in it.
The homeowner saw Dennis driving away and called the police. An officer spotted the van stuck in the snow at 28th Street and 16th Avenue Southwest, but Dennis allegedly took off running and got into a white Buick that Ramirez 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 arrested Dennis and Ramirez when their car went into a snowbank at 21st Street and Seventh Avenue Southwest.
After his arrest, Ramirez told police that he and Dennis had 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 told officers. Ramirez said he attempted to leave the scene, but Dennis demanded to be let into the car. Ramirez said he was “scared for his life” and thought Dennis might have a gun.
Ramirez will receive credit for time served towards his sentence; he has been in Mower County jail since his arrest.
