RED WING. Minn. – For Charles Williams Childs it was a wild ride at the Treasure Island Casino on Prairie Island. For the cops even more so. Here’s the incredible saga, as told by police, that led to Childs facing 11 criminal counts:
> Police received a domestic assault call involving Childs, 29, of nearby Welch.
> As an officer arrived, Childs drove away on an off-highway vehicle. But he turned around and returned and stole officer’s squad car.
> Other officers gave chase, during which Childs used the squad car radio to say he was being “tortured and blackmailed” and was “wanted off the reservation.” That may have been s reference to Mdewakanton tribal lands where the casino is located.
> Childs reached speeds of 70 mph near the casino. In the casino parking lot, pedestrians and vehicles were endangered.
> At railroad tracks that cut by the casino, Childs sped in front of a Canadian Pacific freight and cut off the pursuing officers.
> Childs rammed a Red Wing police car head-on at a high rate of speed, injuring two officers.
>The chase ended after 45 minutes when an officer driving a BearCat armored vehicle rammed the the stolen squad car.
> Childs got out of the squad car but resisted officers, although they final got him into custody.
This all was Friday morning. Childs was arraigned Monday, his bail set at $300,000. Prairie Island police said the stolen squad was totaled, a $37,000 loss.
Childs. He may need lessons from Driving 101. Also Manners 101.
