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A Cass Lake, Minnesota man is facing felony charges after he fled from officers in a stolen vehicle before jumping into the Red River earlier this week.
Jerome Anthony White, 21, has been charged with felony fleeing from law enforcement and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Court documents claim White fled from an East Grand Forks police officer in a stolen vehicle on Thursday morning, June 9. Police say that around 3:21 a.m. June 9, EGFPD Officer Parker Knaack attempted to pull over a man, who was later identified as White and driving in a silver GMC pickup eastbound through East Grand Forks. Police said White was driving erratically and had failed to stop a stop sign, White was also allegedly speeding, driving between 31-43 mph in a 30 and 35-mph zone. Later, after White did not stop, the pursuit sped up to around 70 mph, according to police, and continued onto 147th Street Southwest, which is a gravel road. The road also has a dead end. The pick up had continued northbound into a field, where officers located it.
When officers found the truck there was no one inside, but officers could hear branches breaking in the woods nearby. Knaack ordered the person to come out of the woods, but police allege White did not comply.
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Law enforcement requested for a K-9 to come and track the driver who had fled, while waiting for the dog to arrive, an officer saw a man climbing onto a John Deere loader that belonged to RJ Zavoral & Sons Company. White then allegedly proceeded to lead officers on a foot chase into the woods, before apparently jumping into the Red River nearby, police say.
Police said officers saw White swimming in the Red River around 6:36 a.m. Thursday, but he “appeared extremely exhausted and started to just float down the river” before making it to the North Dakota side of the Red, where he was later arrested. After being cleared by medical personnel and agreeing to come back to the Minnesota side of the river, White was transported to the EGFPD, police said.
White has had numerous felony cases open in Minnesota in various counties, including charges of felony theft, attempted aggravated robbery, assault and felony receiving of stolen property.
