A Texas man was arrested after a 20-mile high-speed chase Nov. 18 that started in Hastings.
Christopher Patrick Horton, 24, Childress, TX, was charged with a felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and a gross misdemeanor count of 3rd degree driving while impaired, refusing a breath test. Horton is currently residing in Burnsville, according to the complaint.
According to the criminal complaint Nov. 20 at 1:57 a.m., on Nov. 18 a Hastings Police Department officer approached a silver sedan northbound on Vermillion Street. The vehicle was in the turn lane to go westbound on Hwy. 55 and suddenly accelerated, went through the red light and turned onto Hwy. 55. As the car sped away, the officer activated his emergency lights and siren. The car traveled westbound at speeds exceeding 100 mph before turning west on County Road 42 toward Rosemount. The pursuit continued onto Pilot Knob Road, onto McAndrews Road at 90 mph into Apple Valley and Burnsvillle.
When the vehicle turned onto County Road 11, it reportedly almost lost control and an attempt to stop it with stop sticks was unsuccessful. It eventually was stopped by an officer using a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver when it turned off of County Road 11.
Horton was taken into custody, and officers noticed his eyes were red, and he had poor balance and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Horton refused a breath test at the Dakota County Jail.