ROCHESTER, Minn. – Deputies ended a 120-mph car chase on foot near the south suburban Menards store and arrested two men. Charged with fleeing in a motor vehicle, driving recklessly, speeding, possessing a controlled substance, fand fleeing on foot was Brent Espenson, 38, who listed no address but who hangs out around Rochester. His passenger, Adam Thompson, 35, of Preston, was charged with fleeing on foot and on an already-existing warrant. Other charges were expected, police said.
Anatomy of chase
The chase began in Fillmore County, but deputies broke it off as risky. Olmsted County deputies then sighted the vehicle on Highway 63 and initiated a stop, but the driver sped off, at times exceeding 120 mph. Other officers laid down stop spikes. With the tires deflated, both the driver and passenger ran. One officer quickly caught the driver. A deputy chasing the passenger slipped on ice and momentarily lost sight, but the man’s phone pocket butt-dialed 911 and the ping showed him in the Menards South parking lot. He was soon in custody. A search of their vehicle found drugs including meth and marijuana, police said.