FARMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) — A Farmington man who allegedly sped away from police on his snowmobile and crashed into a pond is facing charges.
Robert Astgen, 35, is charged with one count of fleeing a police officer and two counts of driving while impaired.
Police said they saw a man on a snowmobile going more than 60 mph in the area of Pilot Knob Road and 195th St. just before 8 p.m. on Nov. 19.
They tried to catch up to the man, but he did not slow or stop for traffic on Pilot Knob Road when they turned on the emergency lights and siren.
Officers were able to find where the snowmobiler lived after talking to neighbors in the area and learned from other residents at his home that Astgen was the driver.
Police also learned that the snowmobile in question was located into a retention pond in a field and was sunk up to its handlebars.
When police found the abandoned snowmobile in the water they also noticed footprints walking away.
They were able to track down Astgen and check on his welfare at another home around 10:30 p.m.
Officers said he appeared to be OK, and claimed to know nothing about an incident involving a snowmobile. But when he pulled out his wallet to show police his ID, it was soaking wet. The jacket that witnesses saw on the speeding snowmobile was also located at the home and was also soaking wet.
Police believed that Astgen was under the influence of alcohol too and when they asked him about it he said he had a “couple of beers.”
They gave him a breath test and his BAC was 0.14, above the legal limit for driving which is 0.08.
Officer said Astgen has a previous conviction for driving under the influence in 2009.
