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High-speed chase ends near Fairfax

Belview, Hopkins men lead deputies on half-hour chase

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Eight law enforcement agencies were involved in a half-hour, high-speed chase that began with a gas drive-off in New Ulm and concluded on State Highway 4, just south of Fairfax Thursday night. The suspect vehicle, a 1991 Jeep Cherokee, is pictured in the New Ulm Police Dept. Impound Lot. The Jeep was driven by Joshua D. Panitzke, 22, Belview. He is being held in the Brown County Evaluation Center. A passenger in the Jeep, Travis J. Walker, 26, Hopkins, is being held in the Brown County Jail due to three McLeod County warrants. There were no injuries. Damage was minor to three squad vehicles.

NEW ULM — A 22-year-old Belview man and a 26-year-old Hopkins man were arrested Thursday evening after a half-hour, high-speed chase that covered parts of four counties, and reached speeds of 105 mph.

The suspect vehicle driver, Joshua D. Panitzke, 22, Belview; and a passenger, Travis J. Walker, 26, Hopkins; were taken into custody without incident after being forced off the road on State Highway 4 south of Fairfax.

At 6:08 p.m. Thursday, a Brown County Sheriff’s Office deputy noticed a 1991 Jeep Cherokee just west of Sleepy Eye on U.S. Highway 14. The vehicle had been involved in a New Ulm gas drive-off earlier in the day, according to a Brown County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The deputy pulled the vehicle over, but the driver of the vehicle took off after the initial stop, leading law enforcement on a half-hour chase into parts of Brown, Redwood, Nicollet and Renville counties. The suspect vehicle’s speeds varied from 75 to 105 miles per hour.

A Stop Stick tire device deflated one tire on the suspect vehicle. The pursuit ended on State Highway 4, about a quarter-mile south of Fairfax when law enforcement hit the Jeep from behind, putting it into a controlled spin, said Brown County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jason Seidl.

The technique is used by law enforcement as a safer alternative to bring car chases to a conclusion by causing a fleeing vehicle to turn sideways, causing the driver to lose control and come to a stop.

Panitzke had an outstanding Redwood County warrant, according to the news release, and was being held at the Brown County Evaluation Center Friday. He is being investigated for driving while under the influence of a controlled substance.

Walker, facing three arrest warrants from McLeod County, was held in the Brown County Jail Friday.

Drug paraphernalia was found in the suspect vehicle, according to the news release. There were no injuries.

Seidl said the investigation of the pursuit includes law enforcement video.

Three squad cars had minor damage, Seidl said. Law enforcement agencies and units involved in the chase besides the Brown County Sheriff’s Office included Sleepy Eye, Springfield and Fairfax Police, The Renville and Redwood County Sheriff’s Offices and the Minnesota State Patrol. Sleepy Eye Ambulance assisted.

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