MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 51-year-old South Dakota man is custody after allegedly leading police on a chase that led to a SUV fire Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
Police officers were dispatched at 1 p.m. to the area of 7100 block of 80th Street on a report of a possibly intoxicated man driving over a curb and hitting a rock. The caller told police the SUV had a flat tire and was heading northbound on Highway 61.
When an officer caught up with the SUV near 70th Street, the vehicle was losing rubber from the flat tire and the SUV would not pull over for squads. The SUV continued at speeds of 70 mph, stopped twice and would then accelerate away. During the chase, flames appeared from underneath the SUV.
The SUV finally stopped in Newport on Glen Road. The man exited the SUV and the man was pulled away from the burning SUV. Authorities say he was intoxicated.
The Newport Fire Department responded and extinguished the flames.
The driver was taken to the Cottage Grove Police Department and was processed for DWI and felony fleeing. His identity was unknown initially being his wallet and ID was burned in the SUV and due to his intoxicated state, he was not very cooperative.
The driver was later identified as Obrien Blickem Baker of Winner, S.D.
Baker is now in custody at the Washington County Jail pending formal charges.
