WINONA, Minn. – A wild police pursuit began after a vehicle ran a stop sign, struck an oncoming car, and then struck a parked car. The vehicle, with two people inside, just kept going, police said. The vehicle ran up on a sidewalk and across a yard. One person got out and fled on foot. The driver sped on. The chase had begun at Fifth and Franklin streets on the East Side about 5 p.m. and ended up nine blocks farther east at Fifth and High Forest when one of the people in the car and ran away. Police missed most of the flight, but a witness followed the vehicle and guided police when they joined in. The chase ended on foot with police closing in. Arrested were:
> John Thomas Kleveter, 26, of Winona, who was cited for the hit-and-runs and for driving after revocation.
> Michelle Mae Kleidoer, 33, of Winona, who was cited for not having auto insurance.
Their stories weren’t the same at first, police said. Kleidoer was at the wheel when the vehicle was stopped. Apparently, it seemed, they switched seats at one point. Why the sideswipes? Slippery roads, they said. Why hit and then run? Kleveter thought the police would discover that there were warrants for his arrest. Why switch seats? Kleveter said that he didn’t have a driver license and that it was Kleidoer’s idea for them to switch.