Man charged after high-speed chase
Published 10:33 am Saturday, October 20, 2018
Gilson Patrick Pina, 19, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was charged on Friday in Mower County District Court with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor possession of over 1.4 grams of marijuana in a motor vehicle and petty misdemeanor speeding.
According to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger, an officer was on patrol at 7:20 p.m. on Thursday heading eastbound in the 1400 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast when he observed a gray 2009 Ford Mustang going west at a high rate of speed.
The officer clocked the speed at 42 in a 30 mile per hour zone. The officer turned and began to pursue, clocking the vehicle at 62 miles per hour.
Krueger said the chase went onto Hormel Century Parkway, Fourth Street Northeast and 14th Avenue Northeast before ending in the 1400 block of Eighth Street Northeast. At one point in the chase, the Ford blew through a stop sign.
Three occupants, including Pina, who was driving, were removed from the car during the traffic stop. Pina was arrested; the other two occupants of the Ford were questioned and released.
Police are investigating who the rightful owner of the Ford is, Krueger said. They spoke to a woman who claimed to be the owner, but the Ford came back registered to a male. It is unclear in the vehicle was stolen.
Pina will appear in court again on Nov. 1.