A burglary suspect crashed a pickup into a tree while fleeing deputies, who recovered a stolen rifle and suspected methamphetamine, according to charges. The pursuit followed a reported garage break-in in rural Olmsted County around 6:57 a.m. Sept. 18.
Aaron Michael Anderson, 46, of Hayfield, faces nine charges in Olmsted County District Court. Six are felonies: third-degree burglary, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, second-degree drug possession involving a firearm, prohibited firearm possession, theft and receiving stolen property.
The homeowner supplied trail-camera photographs showing two men and a woman entering her detached garage and loading property into a Chevrolet Silverado, according to the criminal complaint. A deputy later spotted the pickup pulling a blue trailer.
A sergeant attempted to stop the pickup near 105th Street Northeast and Highway 63 North. The driver sped away, went into a ditch while trying to turn into a driveway and struck a tree, the complaint says. A male passenger ran into a cornfield. Anderson and a female passenger were arrested at the scene.
Anderson told officers he had methamphetamine in his pocket, according to the complaint. A package recovered from that pocket weighed 18.9 grams and field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Deputies also found a stolen .22-caliber Remington rifle in the pickup. The complaint says prior convictions made Anderson ineligible to possess a firearm.
In a statement to investigators, Anderson said the group had gone to the property to pick up the trailer. He said the other man broke open the garage door and all three loaded property into the trailer. He also said the man told him to drive away when they saw police lights and heard a siren.
The homeowner estimated the missing property and trailer were worth $3,000. Reported stolen items included the rifle, a welder, a heater, a generator and other equipment.
The remaining charges are gross misdemeanors for driving without a required ignition-interlock device and third-degree property damage, plus a misdemeanor for driving faster than was reasonable for conditions.
