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Two injured in high-speed chase
Published Monday, March 10, 2008
Photo by Brian Hansel
Emergency services personnel look over a state trooper’s squad car after it was hit Sunday afternoon in a high-speed chase near the intersection of Highways 59 and 210.
An Elbow Lake man was seriously injured Sunday after leading several law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit that resulted in multiple injuries and a number of damaged squad cars.
What began as a routine traffic stop in Grant County Sunday ended up as a serious vehicle crash following a high-speed chase through Grant and Otter Tail counties. The incident ended at the intersection of highways 59 and 210 where driver Jeffrey Anderson crashed head-on into a State Patrol squad car.
Anderson, 48, of Elbow Lake, was in critical condition this morning at Innovis Hospital in Fargo. State Patrol Trooper Vaughn Ebenhausen and a Fergus Falls Police officer sustained minor injuries.
Anderson and Ebbighausen were transported from the scene by ambulance to Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls. Ebenhausen and the Fergus Falls officer were treated and released from the hospital Sunday.
“Ebbighausen’s all right,” State Patrol Capt. Bruce Hentges said. “He’s going to take the next couple days off. He’s stiff and sore.”
Anderson led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase around 4 p.m. that started in Grant County when authorities attempted to pull him over for speeding, said Grand County Sheriff Dwight Walvatne.
Photo by Jeff Hage
A white van sits on its roof after flipping over during a high-speed chase on Fergus Falls' east side. Officers from Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County and the State Patrol all work the scene.
“(Anderson) was clocked driving a high rate of speed going down Grant County Highway 59,” Walvatne said. “It was later determined he was driving with a revoked license.”
The chase proceeded into Otter Tail County. On Highway 59 by Big Chief near Fergus Falls, the suspect forced a Fergus Falls Police and Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department squad cars out of their lanes, Walvatne said.
“He tried to go head-on with an Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department (squad car) but the deputy was able to maneuver so she was not hit,” Walvatne said.
Stop-sticks were placed near the intersection of Highway 59 and Highway 210 on the east side of Fergus Falls. The chase ended on Pebble Lake Road in Fergus Falls. As Anderson’s vehicle approached the roadblock, it slammed head-on into a State Patrol squad car and Anderson’s vehicle flipped over onto its roof.
“There were four squad cars on the shoulder,” Fergus Falls Police Chief Tim Brennan said. “A State Patrol (car) and three of ours. “
Photo by Brian Hansel
A Fergus Falls Police squad car sustained front-end damage after being hit by a State Patrol squad car during a high-speed chase Sunday that ended in Fergus Falls.
All of the officers were outside their vehicles, in the process of deploying stop sticks. Anderson hit Ebbighausen's car and sent it into a Fergus squad car. As the trooper’s squad was spinning around, it hit the trooper, Brennan said. The police officer was injured at the same time.
Anderson was transported to Lake Region Hospital with serious injuries and later transferred to Innovis. Ebbighausen and the officer were transported to Lake Region Hospital by ambulance, where they were treated and released.
Grant County and Otter Tail County sheriff’s departments, Fergus Falls Police and the State Patrol are conducting an investigation. A report will be presented to county attorneys in Grant and Otter Tail counties for determination of charges, Walvatne said.
See more photos in "Spotted"
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by dragonlord824 (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
scaryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that all the facts are in ink for everyone see, lets see if all those sarcastic remarks keep popping up on here and the people questionning officer actions in regards to this idiot trying to ram several squad cars at 90 mph...think thats reason enough to try get this guy stopped before he could have killed any one of us who were out driving around that day? There could have been several officers killed during this and we should be grateful that this ended before it got into town.
Posted by notcominghome (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.
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Posted by Amanda (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's "Ebbighausen" not Ebenhausen. If you don't know how to spell it, just ask someone!
It's a simple thing, really: Just have someone proofread articles first!
Posted by mp335 (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hats off to all agencies involved!! It's good to hear the Officers were not seriously injured. Once again, through proper training, Officers can bring resolution in split seconds to these "cancers" in society. Tax-payer money well spent.
Posted by buzzman55 (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WAS IT REALLY WORTH A HIGH SPEED PURSUE OVER SOMETHING SO PETTY HAS SPEEDING WHEN OFFICERS COULD HAVE EASILY WROTE HIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER DOWN AND ARRESTED HIM THE NEXT DAY AT HIS HOME? GOD! THE COPS MUST HAVE HAD A BORING DAY TO DO SOMETHING SO DAM STUPID! THERE'S A REASON WHY BIG CITIES ARE NOW CALLING OFF NON-LETHAL PURSUES AND PERHAPS THESE OFFICERS NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT FACT.
Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 2:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh Buzzman, first off lets think about this rationally for a second.
If it was so petty as speeding as you say then why did the dumba$$ take off 90mph.
Yes big cities do call off chases. This started out in the boonies. Not Minneapolis, and they ended it before it got to town...
Hats off Officers.... Great Job...
Now on to the sad part that we as taxpayers are going to have to pay for this idiot to sit behind bars for the next ten to twenty years. Attempted First or second degree murder on a Police Officer doesn't look good. So hey buzzman as long as you are having a go at this, why don't you offer to pay extra on your taxes as this guy sits in prison since we will all pay the 35,000 per year it will cost to incarcerate him.
Posted by Tmalve (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said doctipster. The only thing I find "Dam stupid" buzzman, is your comment! I do not think the Officers enjoy putting themselves and others at risk, to apprehend an IDIOT. What did the Ottertail Co. Deputy say to the Grant Co. Deputy: I'm "Bord" find someone to start a high speed chase with, instruct him/her to head twords Fergus, we will join in on the "Action", injure a few co-workers/civillians and while were at it, damage a few squad cars. Sounds good. Hmmmmmm, I wonder why "Big Cities" call off pursuits. This pursuit ended before it reached our city.
Posted by CP3571 (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1) If the officer would have let this guy go to give him a ticket once he got home and he killed someone on the way to Fergus then everyone would have more upset. Expecially if it would have happened once he got into Fergus. There is no way to know or for the officer to know what this guy would have done once he got to Fergus.
2) If officers took the position of letting people go if they do not stop for, why should anyone stop for the officers? If someone is doing something they don't want the officer to know about, I will just speed away and I may get a ticket later.
3) Officers to have to way the risks of a persuit compared to public safety. They stopped this guy on the edge of Fergus. If this guy would have sped away from an officer inside Fergus, I bet the pursuit would have been completely different because it is a populated area. That is why big cities handle this issues differently.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
YEAH BUZZMAN...JUST TELL THE COPS TO WRITE HIS LICENSE NUMBER DOWN AND LET HIM GO. LETS JUST LET EVERYONE WHO'S DRIVING 90 MPH WITHOUT A LICENSE JUST DRIVE AWAY...GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND TO EVERYONE, IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REASON TO STOP THIS GUY THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP ANY CARS. THEN TRY GO PROVE WHO WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN COURT...YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY A BRAINCHILD. YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THE COPS MAY ENOJOY CHASING HIM AS IF ITS FUN LIKE SOME MOVIE OR VIDEO GAME. THEY TURN ON THEY'RE LIGHTS TO GET SOMEONE TO STOP, NOT TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO RUN...AND YOU GO TRY TELL THE TROOPER WHO WAS JUST ABOUT KILLED THAT MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE JUST WROTE HIS LICENSE PLATE DOWN AND LET HIM GO, THAT WILL MAKE EVERYTHING ALL BETTER. MAYBE ONE DAY YOUR VIEWS WILL CHANGE IF YOU EVER LOSE SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT TO SOME DRUNK DRIVER OR JUST SOME IDIOT DRIVER LIKE THIS GUY TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT DROPPING YOU ON YOUR HEAD SO MANY TIMES.
Posted by Pretendyouareanadultpeople (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear CP3571,doctipster, and Sumwun
"why did the dumba$$ take off 90mph"
Let's just think about that for a minute.... MAYBE because he was being chased??? ==> He didn't have a license, HE knew that, and then the cops found that out, want to bet that they could have simply met him at his house rather than CHASE HIM INTO FERGUS FALLS at a high rate of speed therefore ENDANGERING all other traffic on the road at that time?
==> Amanda
It's "Ebbighausen" not Ebenhausen. If you don't know how to spell it, just ask someone!
It's a simple thing, really: Just have someone proofread articles first! Consider the source!!
** "We" simply take for granted that THIS is what “we” have to call our “news and our newspaper” in this area. Throw it/something/ANYTHING “out there” in big, bold print (correct spelling is NOT considered to be a requirement), get a reaction from the whole town, THEN do your research, possibly print a retraction LATER (perhaps on the back of the last page, in small print)….. such is life in this “big city.” ;-)
Posted by lenny (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bussman, if you think you can use logic and reason to frame an argument to most of the posters to this site you are going to be disappointed. Here in Hazzard county Minnesota we do things the old fashion way, that means no changes in actions or thought processes. Just because other communities have found better ways of doing things doesn’t mean we have to adopt them here. Change here takes several generations.
Posted by CP3571 (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pretendyouareanadultpeople... So, if someone steals your car, is speeding down the highway and runs from the police. The police should not pursue him and come by your house tomorrow and give you a ticket? (They may not know your car is stolen at that point if it hasn't been reported yet)
Minneapolis is returning $2.8 million dollars in fines to people who ran red lights and were caught by camera.
The police where able to prove who the car belongs to, but not who was driving it. ( http://www.startribune.com/local/1154762... )
These officers are trained individuals that have to make split second decisions that could endanger their lives, the other persons life, and innocent bystanders lives. If they make the decision to pursue, people could get hurt. If they decide not to pursue, people could get hurt. There is no way to tell what the outcome could have been if another choice would have been taken.
The best action would have been for this guy to have respected the law and not have been behind the wheel. If he had not been speeding (it doesn't say how fast he was clocked at). Or if he would have pulled over and taken responsibility for his actions. There were 3 things this guy could have done before it ever got to this point.
That is why we have laws and it is law enforcements job to enforce them. If they do not enforce the laws, people will ignore them.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He was doing 90 mph BEFORE the cop tried to stop him. And do you think if he's got the nerve to try ram squad cars head on that he's just going to answer the door and give up peacefully if they show up at his house? yeah...someone as reckless as this..good idea..lets let the guy kill a few people, and after that, the first place he's gonna go is to his house, because the cops WONT look for him there, right?? Even if he did...lets let him make it there wheres he's got any variety of hunting weapons that a good percentage of midwesterners have in their home so he can use it on the cops when they show up...lets talk about safety now.
Posted by ffguy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
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Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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Posted by Vampire (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It appears to me the only posters calling people names and insulting others are ffguy, tmalve and little davieboy
Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That hasn't been the case. You Anti-Authority people have done your share of insulting and name calling as well......but this isn't about that. You're off track again Vampire. But lets make a deal......no more name calling.
Posted by sweetpea (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sumwan, where do you get this speed of 90 miles per hour from? It’s not in any of the articles. Were you in the van? Or in the chase car? Or are you just a mind reader.
Posted by mplsdude (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure many many people have been killed in high speed pursuits, but lets keep our minds on the important things in life. If the perp is captured and pays his parking tickets fines everything works out in the end. If little Dick and Jane and their parents are killed maybe they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, get over it.
Posted by hennenshouse (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police used stop sticks to ,i dont know, maybe stop the persuit. So they were doning everything right to end it before a populated area. It sounds like Anderson is the one that is in critical condition and we should pray he gets better. Also, its a miricle the officer that got hit head on only had minor injures.
Posted by The_Nick (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sweetpea -
The 90mph comes from the Grant County Sheriffs Office report, it was on the tv news.
Posted by tanker8 (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's the hot firefigter with the red helmet?
Posted by ffguy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thik it is Matt Artnson, he works with friend of mine.
Posted by lenny (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CP3571, as one of those caught in Minneapolis with the police cameras, I can tell you that the city is not returning fine money to anyone yet. And the reason the court ruled the way it did was because the city did not have the authority to make the law in the first place. (read your own citation) not because they could not prove who was the driver. “The state Supreme Court's finding that the city had no authority to institute a system that videotaped cars running red lights had affirmed a March 2006 ruling by Wernick. At that time, about 5,000 such cases were pending; all were dismissed.” But since you know so much perhaps you could call the city of Minneapolis and tell them that you said to start mailing the refunds.
Posted by ffguy (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was wrong that is Aaron. Wrong picture!
Posted by buzzman55 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:29 a.m.
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Posted by Tmalve (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Buzzman, how do you think this situation should have been handled. Remember Mr. Anderson is the one who put lives at RISK. What do you mean by "put a two year to shame".
Posted by CP3571 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can see the new law now: If they see someone speeding, they can turn on their lights to try to pull them over. If they stop - great. If they don't stop - oh well, better luck next time. The people who need to be stopped are not going to stop. Someone has a few to many beers, why should they stop and get a DWI when they can run and only get a speeding ticket the next day (assuming they are driving their car and not someone elses).
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Another thing this article does not talk about is what kind of chase it was. Anyone want to bet the officer just followed him from a distance and just followed in to the other officers he radioed ahead to?
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This situation became bad as soon as the officer turned on his lights to stop Mr. Anderson. Even if the officer turned off his lights to not pursue, Mr. Anderson was not going to slow down until he thought he was not going to get caught.
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Hind sight is 20/20. You can always look back and situations and say what could have been done different. This situation could have turned out better but could have turned out alot worse. If the officer had let him go and he killed someone, they people would be wondering why they didn't try to stop them.
Posted by CP3571 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lenny.. Sorry, I don't have one of those tickets from Minneapolis to look. I actually stop at red lights. You know that law thing. The only information that I have about it is what the newspaper tells me (which may not include 100% of the details).
Posted by CP3571 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The article from Star Tribune states both situations about the Minneapolis ruling (if you believe the paper):
http://www.startribune.com/local/1154762...
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In the spring, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the program violated statewide traffic laws. The court found that ticketing the owners of cars that were videotaped without proof of who was actually driving the car violated the rights of the owners. The photos did not show who was driving, but the owners had to go to court if they wanted to challenge the ticket.
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"They automatically cited the owner, even if the owner wasn't driving," Tanick said.
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The state Supreme Court's finding that the city had no authority to institute a system that videotaped cars running red lights had affirmed a March 2006 ruling by Wernick. At that time, about 5,000 such cases were pending; all were dismissed.
Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the Daily Journal needs to do a better job of securing their commenting section from former FIRED employees (or contractors) who apparently don't deserve to work anywhere. Actually I think the story hit a nerve with the two of them. Reality strikes home. Will the next high-speed chase of a lawbreaking anti-social originate in New York Mills?
Posted by lenny (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gee norse, I don't know. Where do you live?
Posted by citizenkane (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
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Posted by really (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The officer would have died if he had been in the car. It could have been much worse. It could have been when kids were going home from school during the work week. I for one think that the officers used best practices in this situation. The driver had no regard for anyone else. People don't flee if they don't have something to hide from. Normal people would have pulled over when the lights came on and just taken the ticket. But, some think that they are above the law. You can play what if situations all you want but the fact of the matter is that the driver made a major error in judgement and he is very lucky that no one was killed. The officer is lucky that he gets to go home to his family! They put their lives on the line every time they put on their uniform. Thank you to the officers for all your efforts!
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone up there was asking where I got the 90 mph from. The State Patrol caption Hentges did a radio interview breaking down the reason for the stop. He stated that the reason for the stop is the deputy clocked the van doing 91 mph in a 55 zone. Your welcome.
Posted by Tmalve (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
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Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.
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Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 9:29 p.m.
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Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 9:53 p.m.
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Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
May God Bless the Fergus Falls Police Department, The Ottertail County Sheriffs Department, and the MN State Hiway Patrol!
Posted by citizenkane (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everyone's comments being deleted? Lenny do you know??
Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 9:43 a.m.
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Posted by Norse (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly!
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Trooper Ebbighausen for the job that you do! (from a friend from the old neighborhood.)
The admins of this site should be able to ID the multiple personalites here... and block the IP(IPs) if necessary.
Posted by thinkaboutit (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know this guy personaly, he used to live with me and my family in Tyler for some odd years and yes that was a horrible thing for him to do but other people have done worse.His life hasn't been easy and i know thats no excuse for what he's done but some of you people need to place yourself in his shoes before you open your mouth. I think the police handled the siguation fine and I'm glad they didn't just leave because then things would of got bad...like someone getting ran over or worse.
Posted by globalcooling (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hats off to the Sheriff's Department for stopping this psycho!
Posted by Tmalve (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 3:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure why my comment was removed. Does the site staff Remove any comment if someone selects "Suggest Removal", regardless of the contents.
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