Douglas County (trfnews.i234.me) – Authorities in west-central Minnesota responded to a tense pursuit and standoff on Interstate 94 between Fergus Falls and Alexandria on Monday afternoon. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified around 12:12 p.m. of a stolen vehicle at the Burgen rest stop.
When deputies approached, the vehicle fled. Law enforcement attempted to use stop sticks, but the driver avoided them. Near mile marker 82 by the Evansville exit, deputies slowed the suspect vehicle and performed a successful PIT maneuver, forcing it to spin out. The driver then put the car in reverse and accelerated in an attempt to escape, but deputies pinned it against a guardrail.
Despite repeated verbal commands, the driver and passenger refused to exit. Deputies observed the male driver putting on a heavy winter coat and other clothing, a tactic sometimes used to resist less-lethal tools. Due to this behavior, the Sheriff’s Office deployed an armored vehicle to provide cover.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure compliance, deputies deployed Pepper Ball munitions into the vehicle. The tactic proved effective, and both the driver, identified as Nicholas Sleen, and the passenger, identified as Allison Jacobs, exited without further incident.
Both suspects received medical attention before being booked into the Douglas County Jail. They face numerous charges, including fleeing law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, and firearms violations. During the standoff, I-94 was closed at the Evansville exit, and several agencies assisted in the operation.
Formal charges are expected to be filed on Tuesday. The case remains under investigation.
For more on Minnesota traffic safety and law enforcement operations, visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
