A rural Austin man was charged Friday in Mower County District Court, accused of leading police on a short, high-speed chase and driving drunk.
Tony Michael Bell, 24, faces one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony; and two counts of gross misdemeanor DWI. He was also charged with misdemeanor speeding and possession of drug paraphernalia, a petty misdemeanor.
According to the police report, an officer was running radar on Fourth Street north of Mapleview about 1:15 a.m. Friday when he clocked a pickup, allegedly driven by Bell, traveling 77 in a 40 mph zone.
Bell accelerated when the police officer turned to follow the vehicle, the report says, and continued northbound on 540th Street "at a very high rate of speed." A second radar reading registered 92 mph, said Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger.
The pursuit ended less than two miles later when the 2001 Chevy Silverado pulled into a driveway and stopped near a shed; Bell was arrested without incident, Krueger said.
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"It should be noted that the last (nearly half-mile), Mr. Bell turned the (head) lights off on his truck," he added.
Bell's next court appearance is set for July 19. He remains in the Mower County Jail in lieu of $12,000 bond.
