House stops speeding drunk driver

River Falls police dragged a bleeding 58-year-old local man away from a house he crashed into at 701 S. Main St. shortly after dark Friday. The collision caused the house’s water pipes to leak into the basement. There was also concern a gas line had ruptured that could trigger an explosion. The man, eastbound on Park Street in a 2004 Mazda Tribute before making his errant turn, was taken to the hospital. He was later cited for drunk driving.

Officers diverted traffic around the crash site at Main and Park streets. Firefighters were called in to make sure the gas lines were secured.

The driver had apparently turned at full speed into the driveway of the house before hitting it. He was found outside his SUV, leaning against a tree with a bloody gash across his forehead.

Occupants in homes on either side of the house that was hit were evacuated.

The driver allegedly admitted right away he had been drinking. An empty whiskey bottle was found on the floor of his SUV.

River Falls police also:

--Chased an 18-year-old UW-RF freshman student in a stolen car who was allegedly speeding and had already hit a parked car. The pursuit began last Thursday after 3 a.m. The 18-year-old man was first seen speeding west on Cascade Avenue in a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am.

The unlocked car with keys inside was allegedly stolen near Junior’s Bar downtown. The owner was a female college student who works at Junior’s.

Because of the high speeds on Spring, Sixth, Hazel and other residential streets, police couldn’t safely catch their suspect driver. In the area of Eighth and Hazel streets he did finally lose control, go over a curb and stop.

He then tried crawling out of the driver’s side window and fell to the pavement. Ordered to stop, he ran instead.

An officer gave chase on foot and brought the suspect down. The officer was hurt in the spill and hit in the face by the suspect who got up and got away.

Campus police and sheriff’s deputies responded to help with the search. A police dog from St. Croix County finally sniffed out the suspect who was hiding behind a large tree in someone’s back yard.

The suspect was handcuffed face down and brought to the police station.

There, it was learned he was a college student. He told police that he had come from an off-campus house party, was abducted at gunpoint near North Hall and forced by a mysterious gunman to drive around town.

Fearing for his life, the student said he did as he was told. At some point the gunman, who was the front-seat passenger, slipped out of the car and fled.

Police say they found no evidence for the existence of such a gunman.

The UW-RF student was eventually cited for drunk driving and faces criminal charges for fleeing, battery to an officer, obstruction and driving without an owner’s consent. He was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.

The injured River Falls police officer will miss work until at least Nov. 22.

--Arrested an 18-year-old student from St. Cloud State University for drunk driving at West Cascade Avenue and Falls Street by the bridge at 4:15 a.m. Sunday. The man apparently lost control while rounding the curve near the bridge, crossed the road, slammed over a curb and ended up in a front yard at 233 W. Cascade Ave.

Police found the man and his 1997 Ford Mustang, hood up, horn blaring, in the parking lot of the city power plant.

The man was described as stumbling around but he denied drinking. After being given field sobriety tests, the man was arrested and given an $812.50 fine.

Unable to find a sober adult to pick him up, the man was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.

For more, please read Police Beat in the Nov. 16 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

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