A 19-year-old Raymond man, Wilhelm Robert Bratsch, has been charged with multiple offenses in Pennington County District Court following a high-speed chase with law enforcement on Saturday morning. Bratsch is facing charges of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor driving while impaired, gross misdemeanor child endangerment, and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.
The incident occurred around 3:56 a.m. on August 24, when a Thief River Falls police officer reported a vehicle speeding through Boy Scout Park and damaging property on Markley Avenue North. Bratsch, who was driving with an infant and three other passengers, continued to evade police, reaching speeds of 60 to 70 mph.
Despite attempts to stop him, Bratsch only halted his vehicle after being boxed in near Mussey Street and Tindolph Avenue. Bratsch exhibited signs of impairment and admitted to consuming alcohol before the chase. He later complied with a search warrant for a urine test. He was arrested at the scene, and charges are now pending.