Perham Man Charged After Two-County Chase

PERHAM (trfnews.i234.me) — Mathias James Winkels faces two charges after an alleged two-county police chase in July.

The case was filed in Otter Tail County District Court. A warrant was issued with the complaint.

Winkels, 34, is charged with felony fleeing that allegedly caused substantial bodily harm.

He also faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly fleeing on foot.

Chase Began Near Perham

The alleged events began during the night of July 8, 2026.

Court records say Perham police tried to stop a vehicle registered to Winkels.

An officer reported seeing Winkels driving before the vehicle failed to stop.

An Otter Tail County deputy later found the vehicle and joined the pursuit.

The complaint says the vehicle changed speeds and ran a marked stop sign.

Authorities used emergency lights and sirens during the chase.

The vehicle allegedly traveled between 50 and 60 mph during parts of the pursuit.

It then crossed from Otter Tail County into Becker County.

The complaint says Winkels threw an object from the driver’s window.

A Becker County deputy placed stop sticks in the vehicle’s path.

The driver allegedly entered a ditch, avoided the stop sticks, and returned to the highway.

Three marked squad vehicles then continued following the vehicle.

The chase later returned to Otter Tail County.

A deputy attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle.

The vehicle spun, entered a ditch, and then returned to the highway.

The complaint says a Becker County deputy suffered two broken wrist bones during the maneuver.

Authorities ended that part of the pursuit after the vehicle continued against traffic.

Minnesota State Patrol later found the vehicle after midnight on July 9.

Deputies deployed stop sticks again, striking all four tires.

The vehicle continued onto a minimum-maintenance road near a family hunting cabin.

It eventually became stuck in mud, according to the complaint.

The driver then allegedly left the vehicle and ran away.

Deputies spoke with a family member and later checked Winkels’ home.

The complaint says they did not find him at either location.

His location was listed as unknown when the complaint was filed.

The felony charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.

The misdemeanor charge carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A criminal charge is an allegation. Winkels is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The case is filed as 56-CR-26-1702 in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.

Readers can review Minnesota’s fleeing law through the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

Public case information may also be available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.