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Sheriff: Theft Suspect Rams Squad During Chase With Stolen Truck

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 19-year-old man in southeastern Minnesota is in custody after leading authorities on a chase with a stolen vehicle over stolen property, ramming a squad car and is suspected of DUI, according to the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say the incident happened late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. At about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, an individual showed up to the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office to report a theft in Preston, which is south and east of Rochester. Arrangements were made for the suspect to return the property at the sheriff's office.

Later Wednesday, two people showed up to the sheriff's office saying they were helping the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Dylan Bathke, return the stolen property when he pulled a gun on them while they were traveling to Preston. Bathke jumped out of the vehicle and fled the area.

Authorities immediately began a search and at about 12:29 a.m. Thursday, he was spotted outside the site of the original theft in Preston. Officers spotted Bathke in a stolen pick-up truck with no lights on fleeing the area. He was traveling southbound on Highway 52 when the truck left the roadway at County Road 16 between the cities of Preston and Harmony. During a chase with authorities, he rammed a Preston police squad.

Bathke was ultimately taken into custody with nobody getting hurt during the chase. He is being held in the Fillmore County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault of a police officer, theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and suspected DUI.

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