A man who led police officers on a chase through Grand Forks and East Grand Forks on Tuesday that ended in a standoff appeared in Grand Forks District Court on Friday on a charge of fleeing police.
Ron Nikle, described by friends and family as a good man who helps others in need, appeared via interactive television from the Grand Forks County jail before Judicial Referee Harlan Dyrud on Friday afternoon. Nikle, 52, said he understood his rights and asked whether upcoming court hearings could be held soon, saying he'd like to get back to work.
Nikle is charged with fleeing police officers in Grand Forks, a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
It began Tuesday morning when Nikle, after receiving counseling at St. Michael's Catholic Church for a "domestic situation," became angry and threatened to take his life. The priest counseling him called police. Nikle drove off, followed by police, and he fled to the home of relatives in East Grand Forks, where he stood police off for two hours before the he was arrested. No one was injured, but Nikle had two guns, police said.
East Grand Forks police have said Nikle will face charges in Polk County District Court related to the incident, including a fleeing officers charge.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nikle remained in the Grand Forks County jail Friday, with a $1,500 cash bond on the fleeing charge and a April 4 court date in Grand Forks district court. But he also has a $10,000 cash bond linked to his upcoming extradition to Polk County to face charges there, a jail spokesman said.
