A 24-year-old Pillager man faces criminal charges after fleeing from police at speeds exceeding 100 mph, with the pursuit beginning on Highway 371 south of Nisswa and ending when his vehicle crashed into a snowbank in Baxter.
Jerome J. McCarthy Jr., made his first appearance Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Crow Wing District Court where he faces two felony counts of fleeing police and fifth-degree drug possession and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.
According to the criminal complaint, the chase began after a Nisswa officer observed McCarthy’s vehicle traveling south on Highway 371 crossing over the fog line and onto the rumble strips on the highway. The officer began to follow the vehicle, which then headed onto Green Gables Road. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. The vehicle continued west on Green Gables Road, crossed Squaw Point Road, continued on a residential drive and eventually headed back to Highway 371. Police used spike strips to the road, but the vehicle missed them and continued south on Highway 371.
The vehicle then turned east onto Clearwater Road in Baxter, where McCarthy ran the stop sign at Clearwater Road and Golf Course Drive. When he attempted to turn south onto Cypress Drive, the vehicle went out of control and crashed into a snowbank and became disabled, the complaint stated.
Officers searched the vehicle and located a methamphetamine pipe and a bag of meth that contained 2.66 grams behind the passenger seat on the floorboard, and a vape pen with THC oil and cash in the center console of the vehicle. McCarthy did not admit it was his but stated that it did not belong to the passenger in the vehicle, the complaint stated.
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At the jail an evaluation was done on McCarthy and he was found to be under the influence of a CNS stimulant and unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.
McCarthy, who on Wednesday was being held in Crow Wing County Jail, filed a petition to enter a guilty plea into court. No future court date has been scheduled.
