A 23-year-old Clarissa man is in custody after leading law enforcement officers on a 26-mile chase late Wednesday through Todd and Morrison counties.
The suspect, Terry Jean Russell, is being held in the Todd County Jail for fleeing a peace officer, second-degree DWI-test refusal, careless driving, damage to property, no vehicle insurance, driving after license revocation and speeding.
About 10:10 p.m. Wednesday the Todd County Sheriff's Department received a report of a property damage incident at a residence on Todd County Road 10, near Lake Osakis in southwest Todd County.
Terry Russell
Deputies and Long Prairie police located the suspect and attempted to stop his vehicle. They were instead led through Todd and Morrison counties with the suspect vehicle at times reaching more than 100 mph.
Morrison County sheriff's deputies ended the pursuit by using a PIT maneuver - or pursuit intervention technique - in Little Falls, which forced the suspect vehicle to spin out.
Todd County Sheriff Peter Mikkelson said none of his deputies or the suspect were injured in the chase.
Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel said the suspect's vehicle was heavily damaged during the PIT maneuver and two of his squads sustained light damage.
Wetzel said deputies twice used the PIT to stop Russell's vehicle. The first spun Russell out but he was able to keep driving and the second pushed Russell's vehicle into a telephone pole.
"I reviewed all the tapes from the chase and the (deputies) did a nice job," Wetzel said. "The PITs were done at the right time during low speeds ... and that's what we want. We want to stop them as soon as we can stop them."
Russell has several past convictions for alcohol-related and other criminal offenses.
"I think he's a frequent flier," Mikkelson said.
In 2003 he was three times cited in Todd County for illegal consumption of alcohol as a minor; in 2004 he was cited in Todd County for illegal consumption of alcohol as a driver and for driving after license suspension; in 2005 he was cited in Wadena County for issuing dishonored checks, obstructing the legal process, interfering with a 911 call and disorderly conduct, in Morrison County for violating the restrictions of his driver's license and in Todd County for domestic assault; in 2006 he was cited in Todd County for fifth-degree assault; and in 2008 in Becker County he was cited for misdemeanor DWI.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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