Police chase in Mower Co. ends with crash

Published 11:21 am Saturday, April 29, 2017

A police chase involving a stolen vehicle out of Freeborn County ended in Mower County eastbond on Interstate 90 on Tuesday afternoon.

Montique Rinaldo Bickham, 21, of Albert Lea was charged with felony theft in Freeborn County District Court.

According to a court report, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a vehicle stolen from a residence on 800th Avenue in Albert Lea at 12:55 p.m. on Tuesday. A witness said Bickham came over to the home demanding a ride. When he was refused a ride, Bickham allegedly stole the vehicle, a 2017 GMC Sierra, out of the garage of the residence.

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Minnesota State Patrol dispatch was notified about the stolen vehicle by On-Star. Officers pursued the vehicle, which fled at speeds as high as 90 mph, until it drove into a ditch, went through a fence, and stopped in a field off eastbound Interstate 90 near mile marker 183.

Bickham attempted to flee the officers on foot and was arrested at gunpoint.

Officers from the Mower and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Departments assisted in the pursuit.

The owner of the vehicle submitted a stolen vehicle report, valuing the vehicle at $54,000.