On July 2, 2025, at approximately 11:31 P.M., Austin Police Department Officer Sherwood was on routine patrol in the 800 block of 1st Dr NW, Austin, Mower County, MN, when he observed a white Tesla driving at a visual estimate of SOMPH north on 4th St NW. Officer Sherwood went to get behind the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. Once Officer Snerwood got onto 4th St, he observed the Tesla to be driving recklessly through construction, weaving around in the middle of the turn lane. Officer Sherwood activated his emergency lights and then the siren.
The vehicle continued to the parking lot of Subway before turning onto 13th Ave NW, past Kwik Trip and started to flee at a high rate of speed before turning Gouth on6th St. Oller Sherwood deactivated nis emergency tights and siren anc discontinued per department policy. Officer Sherwood continued to 6th St and observed the taillights of the Tesla already over an estimated 10 blocks away, hitting a bump and catching air. Officer Sherwood was close enough to the Tesla in the parking lot of subway to observe custom rims and a slick top.
Officer Sherwood recognized the Tesla to be the same one that he was looking for the day prior regarding a welfare check on SAVINO IGNACIO FUENTES, DOB/032904, hereinafter the defendant. He had been made aware that the defendant was the only one to drive the Tesla. Officer Sherwood drove the defendant's residence, 608 4th St SW. Sherwood spoke with an adult female at the residence who confirmed that the defendant had taken off a while ago, but she did not have an exact time. She stated that he went to hang out with friends.
She once again described the Tesla as having custom rims and slick top. During the same time Sherwood was at the defendant's residence, other officers were called to an accident on 6th St and 2nd Ave NW where a vehicle had been in an accident and a male in a dress shirt took off running. The adult female told Sherwood that the defendant had left the house in a tan dress shirt and jeans. Officers on scene of the crash stated it was a Tesla with Mn/Lic-SBM580, which came back to the defendant. Video obtained from neighbors showed it going at a high rate of speed, jumping the curb and going into a yard.
A few moments later, the adult female got a notification on her phone of motion in the back yard. She observed the defendant running to the garage from the north. He then went into the garage and was attempting to get onto his motorcycle. Officers Sherwood and Johnson rushed to the back where the defendant gat anto hisstomach and Officer Shenwood advised him he wasunder arrest for felony fleeing a police officer. He was placed in double locked handcuffs, searched and placed in the back of a squad car.
Officers noted that the defendant was very sweaty and warm to the touch, which appeared consistent with him running from the Tesla to his residence, in the warm muggy weather. The Tesla was locked when officers and the towing company were dealing with it. Officer McCormack knew Tesla's to have credit card-style "keys" rather than a traditional ignition key. McCormack radioed to Sherwood to ask him if there was such in the defendant's wallet. Sherwood advised there was a Tesla card in the-wallet. McCormack used thekey togain entry into the -venicie.wtMCormack then conaucted 811 inventory and photographed the contents.
