The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

A car chase involving law enforcement vehicles from the Fergus Falls Police Department, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office and Pelican Rapids Police Department ended after a tire deflation strip disabled a vehicle at the intersection of County Highway 88 and U.S. Highway 59 at around 2:30 a.m. today.

A Sheriff’s Office squad car spotted a vehicle matching the description of the dark car missing one taillight seen leaving the scene of an alleged crime at an Erhard residence.

The squad car attempted to pull the southbound vehicle over on County Highway 27, when the driver refused to pull over. A motor vehicle pursuit began near 270th Street and continued south on County Highway 27 into the Fergus Falls city limits. The vehicle turned north onto County Highway 88.

Speeds became dangerous, reaching 50 miles per hour on snow packed county roads. The Sheriff’s Office deployed a tire deflation strip near U.S. Highway 59, and the vehicle came to a stop on the entrance ramp of I–94.

The driver was found to be Melody Lynn Nickolauson, 23, of Fergus Falls who was taken into custody for fleeing in a motor vehicle, second degree DWI, driving after revocation and fourth degree criminal damage to property. Nickolauson was driving with two passengers in the vehicle at the time.