McGregor Man Led Deputy on 116 MPH Chase Through Lawler, Charges Say

A McGregor man driving in Salo Township led a deputy on a chase at speeds up to 116 mph in a Chevrolet Impala reported stolen, then got stuck in brush off a rural road and was arrested, according to the complaint.

Dusty Allen Young, 29, faces four charges: failure to register a phone number, theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and driving after revocation. The charges were filed October 16 in Aitkin County District Court.

According to the complaint, at about 12:54 p.m. on October 15, a deputy saw a Chevrolet Impala traveling southbound at a high rate of speed on Kestrel Avenue in Salo Township. The deputy turned around, activated emergency lights and attempted to catch up as the driver accelerated away, passing another car and refusing to stop.

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The complaint states the deputy pursued the vehicle through Lawler and onto State Highway 27, with speeds reaching 116 miles per hour. The driver, later identified as Dusty Allen Young, failed to stop at a stop sign, turned toward Carlton County and continued to evade the deputy, making abrupt turns onto various county roads.

As the pursuit continued, the driver left the paved road, drove into a field, turned around and returned to the roadway before eventually losing control and getting stuck in the brush on a minimum maintenance road. The deputy saw the driver, who appeared to be Young, and placed him under arrest after giving commands to exit the vehicle.

During the investigation, dispatch received a call from the victim, who reported her Chevrolet Impala had been stolen from Mark’s Bar. The victim said a witness called to tell her the vehicle might be involved in a police pursuit. The victim denied giving Young permission to use the vehicle and signed it as stolen.

The complaint says Young told the deputy he was trying to get to his ex’s residence to retrieve his tablet and figure out how to get back into treatment instead of returning to prison. Young admitted to driving about 110 miles per hour and said he was messing with his vape in the vehicle. The deputy searched the vehicle and found a cellphone, which Young said belonged to the victim. Young also stated he had the SIM card for the phone. Young denied stealing the car and said the victim had given him permission to borrow it.

The complaint alleges Young failed to register a phone number as required. He is also charged with driving after revocation.