BROWN COUNTY — A 59-year-old rural Sleepy Eye man faces charges of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor reckless driving and abuse of toxic substances in Brown County District Court.

Patrick J. Dietz, 33604 230th St., allegedly has a history of multiple driving complaints due to huffing duster cans.

Charges were filed Dec. 11 after he led law enforcement on a chase on State Highway 68, into a plowed field near Evan, then in a ditch and on a gravel road in the early evening of Dec. 8, according to court documents.

A Brown County Sheriff’s Office deputy was parked near the intersection of State Highway 68 and County Road (CR) 29, doing stationary radar for traffic on Dec. 8 when he noticed a Chrysler Sebring pass in a southbound direction on Highway 68. The vehicle was recognized as belonging to Dietz, who had had frequent contact with the Sheriff’s Office for multiple driving complaints due to huffing duster cans.

The deputy followed the suspect vehicle southbound on Highway 68 and caught up to it as it entered Evan and continued south on CR 7. The deputy noticed the vehicle cross over the fog line; the passenger side tires were on the road shoulder. The deputy followed the vehicle as it turned west on 230th Street and entered the north ditch into a plowed field.

As the deputy was positioning his squad car behind the suspect vehicle to block it, the driver went in reverse and hit the accelerator, almost causing him to enter the south ditch. His tires got traction facing the deputy.

The suspect vehicle remained still on the gravel road, so the deputy positioned his squad car closer and in front of it. The deputy observed the driver wave his hands as if he was gesturing for the deputy to move. The deputy was exiting his squad car when the driver put the vehicle into drive and moved towards the squad car.

The deputy got back in the squad car and went in reverse as the driver continued towards him. The driver began moving again, hugging the ditch side of the road, but the deputy cut him off, ordered him to “stop the vehicle” and blocked him.

The deputy searched Dietz, handcuffed him and told him he was being detained. Several knives and a duster can were removed from Dietz, who admitted to huffing earlier.

This was the sixth time law enforcement has had contact with Dietz and duster cans were in the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Dietz said he bought the duster cans at Wal-Mart in Redwood Falls and had been huffing on his way back home.

Dietz’ bail hearing was set for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12.