Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A suspect wanted for the theft of a car near Mora slipped away from police here on Monday, but local authorities say the pursuit will continue in other ways.

Police on routine patrol at 8 a.m. Monday observed a vehicle with two different license plates in the parking lot at McDonaldís, 1244 W. Broadway Ave. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver sped off to the south on SW 12th St.

For the next hour police using the help of multiple departments and the Forest Lake K-9 unit searched the southwest area of the city between 12th and 15th streets.

Officer Mark Richert and canine partner Matrix searched two areas that are wooded and have thick underbrush. The dog lost the trail of the man west of SW 15th Street near Eureka Ave. to the north of Clear Lake.

The dog was called into action near the Westridge Townhome complex in the 800 block of SW 12th Street. The dog and three city officers gave chase but could not find the man who abandoned the vehicle and ran in stocking feet.

Chief of Police Clark Quiring said Tuesday it is possible the suspect may have been picked up by a second vehicle.

A vehicle check determined the car abandoned in the parking lot was stolen from Kanabec County.

DIVERSION

A second incident involving a report of a woman being held at gunpoint is now being investigated as a possible diversion to the police pursuit of the man on foot, Quiring said.

About 35 minutes after the foot pursuit began, police received a report that a woman was being held at gunpoint at the Hitching Post Motel, 23855 Forest Blvd. N. Three officers, including the chief, responded to the motel.

A check of all rooms at the motel and a five-plex apartment to the south resulted in a dead-end for any incident involving a woman being held hostage at gunpoint.

Quiring said a cell phone call was made to the 911 dispatch reporting the alleged gun incident. It was later determined that call came from the southwest area of Forest Lake and could be related to the foot chase.

ìWe are believing that it may have been related,î Quiring said.

The chief said this case is far from closed, however.

Authorities plan to continue to investigate the cell phone call that sent officers to the local motel. And, he said, police will interview the woman who owned the stolen car in pursuit of other leads in the case.

During the foot chase on Monday, Forest Lake police received help from officers from Wyoming, the Minnesota State Patrol and sheriffís deputies from Washington and Chisago counties.

In addition to Matrix, canine units from Washington and Chisago counties were on hand but were not deployed, the police chief said.

The man fleeing police was described as a white male, 25 years old. He was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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