Two Faribault County Sheriff’s Department vehicles were among several squad cars damaged in a 45-minute chase through Blue Earth and Faribault County early Monday morning.
According to the Blue Earth Police Department, officers made contact with a pickup truck parked in a traffic lane on U.S. Highway 169 around 1:37 a.m.
Authorities say the driver of the vehicle, 40-year-old Cory Tristan Hansen of Frost, was holding a loaded 12-gauge shotgun in his lap.
Officers tried and were unable to negotiate with Hansen. However, they were able to wrestle the gun away from him as he began driving away from the scene.
Police Chief Tom Fletcher says an officer was on Hansen’s pickup as he pulled away, but managed to jump from the vehicle and was injured.
Chief Deputy Scott Adams says his squad car sustained major damage, while damage to Sheriff Mike Gormley’s was minor.
“When he raced through the Kwik Trip parking lot at a high rate of speed, he was heading in the direction of three employees standing outside,” says Adams. “I redirected his course of travel away from the people onto Highway 169.”
Hansen’s vehicle then struck Gormley’s squad car and he continued heading west on Seventh Street into Juba’s parking lot.
“He hit me head-on in the parking lot,” says Adams. “We ended up boxing him in at the 100th block of Eighth Street and the edge of the boulevard.”
Hansen locked himself in his pickup, says Adams, while Gormley negotiated with him to surrender. Officers took Hansen into custody at 2:35 a.m. and transported him to the county jail.
Hansen had a bail hearing in Faribault County District Court on Tuesday and has an initial court appearance scheduled for May 20.
He faces seven felony counts of first-degree assault-use of deadly force against a peace officer; second-degree dangerous weapon-substantial bodily harm; second-degree assault-dangerous weapon; obstruct legal process-interfere with peace officer; criminal vehicular operation-substantial bodily harm gross negligence; fourth-degree assault-peace officer; fleeing peace officer-motor vehicle; and a misdemeanor, illegal transport of firearm in motor vehicle.
Bail or bond with no conditions was set at $750,000, while a non-cash bond with conditions was set at $500,000 or cash bail of $50,000 with conditions.