High-speed chase near Heron Lake leads to 22 catalytic converters, 2 saws, a car jack — and 3 charges

JACKSON — Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Minnesota State Patrol with a pursuit on Interstate 90 at 6:48 a.m. Thursday near the Heron Lake exit.

A Nissan was reportedly fleeing a state trooper, traveling east at speeds near 120 miles per hour. Deputies were later told the trooper had conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for going 100 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone.

According to the report, the car came to a complete stop. The trooper opened his squad door and placed one foot on the ground to exit the squad car, and as he did so, the driver took off from the stop.

A deputy was positioned on the east side of the Des Moines River overpass with stop sticks ready to disable the tires, but as the vehicle approached the deputy's location, the driver instead took an evasive maneuver into the median — but got stuck in the snow.

The two occupants then fled on foot, crossing the westbound lanes of I-90 and continuing under the overpass onto a township road. Both occupants were wearing black hoodies and black facemasks. A deputy located both occupants wearing matching clothing walking south on Blackbridge Road toward the city of Jackson.

A 24-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, and a 25-year-old man, also from Chicago, were arrested for fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, fleeing a peace officer on foot, and possession of theft tools. According to the Jackson County Jail website, the men are Demario Malaik Brown and Navell Nashawn Morris.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, and inside, they reportedly found 21 Mitsubishi catalytic converters, one Toyota catalytic converter, two electric saws with numerous blades and batteries, one high power car jack and three license plates belonging to different vehicles.

The catalytic converters appeared to be recently cut off vehicles by the saws found in the car.

It was later reported that the catalytic converters were stolen from a car dealership in South Dakota. South Dakota will prosecute the theft.

Both men appeared in Jackson County District Court on Friday. Bail for each of them was set at $30,000 without conditions or $15,000 with conditions.

The Minnesota State Patrol is continuing the investigation, along with the Sioux Falls Police Department.