Suspect in chase uses stolen vehicle
Published 10:18 am Monday, April 18, 2011
An Austin man who led police on a chase after allegedly robbing the Lake Geo Travel Plaza near Dexter on Saturday apparently did so in a stolen vehicle.
Police Chief Brian Krueger said a black 2001 Chevy S10 blazer was stolen from Budget Oil Friday around 2:20 p.m. The vehicle was running and the owner was pumping air into the rear right tire when it was stolen, Krueger said.
The vehicle was spotted at Kwik Trip on Fourth Street SW around 1 a.m. Saturday morning when the driver filled the tank and drove off without paying for the gas. Austin police and Mower County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Lake Geo Travel Plaza just hours after the gas drive-off, around 7 a.m.
Cashier Molly Frank said Saturday that a man wearing a black ski mask entered the Travel Plaza and passed her a note telling her to hand over the money and everything would be OK. Frank gave the man the money, which amounted to about $220.
The suspect allegedly got into the stolen vehicle and headed toward Dexter. An Austin officer spotted the suspect vehicle as he was responding to the Travel Plaza and followed it, which resulted in a chase exceeding speeds of 80 mph and involving five squad cars until the man went into the ditch near the T-intersection on County Road 16.
The suspect was not injured when he went into the ditch. He is expected to be formally charged in Mower County Court this week.