A St. Joseph, Minn., man is facing multiple felonies after a pair of high-speed chases, an assault and a vehicle theft early Thursday in and around Buffalo.
According to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Jeremy Sterzinger, 27, was apprehended Thursday, June 27 after he wrapped a stolen pickup around a power pole. He faces charges including fleeing police in a motor vehicle, robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and driving after revocation. Other charges, including assault, could be pending.
According to the sheriff’s office, the incident started after 2 a.m. as a Wright County Sheriff’s Deputy was on routine patrol in the area of Minnesota Highway 25 and 14th Street Northeast in Buffalo.
The report continues: “The deputy when he observed a vehicle approach him from behind at a high rate of speed. The deputy observed a 2001 white Chevy Impala pass his squad car on the right shoulder at a high rate of speed and continued south on Highway 25. The deputy activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the Impala. The deputy lost site of the vehicle in the area of Eighth Street Northeast.
“A few minutes later the Wright County Communications Center received a call form Brent Morris, 31, of Silver Lake, stating that his vehicle had just been stolen as he stopped to assist a motorist that had went into the ditch. [Morris] advised that the motorist was driving a white Chevy Impala and had went into the ditch in the area of Minnesota Highway 55 and County Road 35. As [Morris] approached the driver of the Impala the suspect assaulted him, and fled in Brent’s 2010 Ford pickup.
“Wright County Sheriff’s Deputies located Brent’s stolen pickup traveling at a high rate of speed in the area of Highway 55 and First Street Northeast, in Buffalo. Deputies pursued this vehicle for a short distance until the driver lost control and struck a power pole at First Street Northeast and Calder Avenue Northeast.
“The driver fled on foot. Wright County Sheriff’s Deputies along with a K-9 were able to locate and apprehend the driver, Jeremy Sterzinger, 27, of St. Joseph, near 1156 Calder Ave NE, Buffalo. Sterzinger was arrested for Fleeing, Robbery, Theft of Motor Vehicle, and Driving after Revocation. He was transported to Buffalo Allina Hospital for injuries sustained in crash and will be booked into the Wright County Jail upon his release.”