Suspects in chase that ended in Albert Lea allegedly assaulted state trooper

Published 7:48 am Friday, December 21, 2018

Two Milwaukee men arrested after they allegedly assaulted a Minnesota State Patrol trooper and then led state and local authorities on a high-speed chase Thursday afternoon are expected to be arraigned Monday in Faribault County District Court.

Anthony Hector Enriquez, 28, and Montrell Antonio Smith, 29, were arrested following the incident that injured Minnesota State Patrol trooper Doug Rauenhorst, who has been with the State Patrol for 22 years, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Authorities arrest one of the two men believed to have been involved with a high-speed chase Thursday afternoon outside Sportsman’s Tavern. Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

Rauenhorst was taken to United Hospital in Blue Earth and released Friday morning, the release states.

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The trooper had reportedly pulled over the vehicle the men were riding in on Interstate 90 west of Minnesota Highway 254, according to a release.

Enriquez and Smith were booked into the Faribault County jail on probable cause for felony assault and controlled substance possession charges.


Minnesota State Patrol troopers place a suspect into a squad car Thursday afternoon that was allegedly involved in a high-speed chase that started near Wells and ended in Albert Lea. Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

Further details on the incident are expected to be available in charging documents filed by the Faribault County Attorney’s Office on Monday.

The State Patrol, Freeborn and Faribault County sheriff’s offices and Albert Lea police are assisting the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension with the investigation.

The chase was called off when the vehicle drove into Albert Lea. Authorities later found the men abandoned their vehicle in the parking lot behind Brick Furniture and fled on foot, leading to a search of the downtown area. A helicopter was called in to assist.

A heavy law enforcement presence could be seen in downtown Albert Lea Thursday afternoon as authorities looked for two men who were involved in a high-speed chase that started near Wells. Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

The men were arrested in the Sportsman’s Tavern on East Clark Street.

The men were seen throwing bricks of marijuana out of their vehicle and on Bridge Avenue in Albert Lea, according to Albert Lea police. The bricks were found in Albert Lea and along I-90.