Driver arrested after high-speed chase

Published 10:50 am Thursday, March 8, 2012

An Austin man was arrested and taken to jail late Wednesday night after leading a police chase through northern Austin.

Alexander Logan, 26, could be charged with felony fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, running stop signs, running a traffic light, reckless driving, driving after revocation, serious speeding, open bottle citation, and fourth-degree DWI, according to Police Chief Brian Krueger.

An officer was on patrol around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed an unoccupied car running in an alley at the 900 block between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue NE. The officer circled around and saw Logan — wearing a white shirt and hat — get into the car and drive off onto Third Avenue NE, running a stop sign while turning onto Eighth Street NE.

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Police followed the car, a black Honda Accord, as Logan turned north onto 10th Street NE. Krueger said Logan sped up, turning eastbound at Eighth Avenue NE, and continued to drive through town at high speeds while running another stop sign.

Logan turned onto Interstate 90 from 11th Drive NE, going westbound at 93 to 94 miles per hour, according to police reports. The driver exited onto Fourth Street NW, where he ran a stoplight at the top of the on-ramp and turned southbound.

Logan quickly turned west onto 12th Avenue NW before going south on Sixth Street NW. He ran past two more stop signs before another officer approaching from the south was able to stop him.

Police stopped Logan, who was driving at about 40 to 50 miles an hour through the northwest part of Austin, at the 700 block of Sixth Avenue. They ordered Logan out of the car at gunpoint, arrested him and took him to jail, according to Krueger. Officers also found a 12-ounce can of Bud Light opened in the car, along with several unopened Bud Light cans.

Krueger said police took Julie Duncan, 38, of Austin into custody and questioned her at the Law Enforcement Center. Duncan was a passenger in the car, which belongs to her. She was cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate her vehicle.

Logan is in Mower County jail pending charges. Krueger said the case has been forwarded to the Mower County Attorney’s office.