Vehicle Used in Rochester Police Chases Located (UPDATED)
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Police reported Tuesday afternoon that the vehicle used by a Lewiston man in a series of police chases has been located. Lieutenant Mike Sadauskis the gold 2006 Chrysler minivan has been involved in 3 recent police pursuits that were all broken off for safety reasons. The driver, who is wanted on arrest warrants issued in Olmsted and Winona Counties, is still being sought.
(previous version)
A man who has a habit of fleeing police was at it again Monday in Rochester.
A patrol officer spotted the man driving a minivan near St. Francis Church around midnight and tried to pull him over. But the man took off at speeds of 55 - 60 mph and the officer broke off the chase near Silver Lake Park.
Arrest warrants have been issued in Olmsted and Winona counties for 53-year-old Brian Rathbun of Lewiston for recent drug and fleeing police charges.
One incident happened in Oronoco when Rathbun drove off even though a county deputy was pointing a gun at his vehicle.
Court records show Rathbun has been charged with fleeing police about a dozen times since 1990. One of those cases involved a chase that began in Eyota and ended near Chatfield.
He is facing new charges as a result of Monday’s incident and two other pursuits about a week ago in Rochester that happened the same day.