RIVER FALLS – A Beldenville man crashed his car while fleeing from police on a frigid night in River Falls.

Joshua Jason Reeverts, 29, was ordered to pay $1,500 cash bond Jan. 26 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony vehicle operator flee/elude officer (repeater), felony OWI-fourth (repeater), two felony bail jumping (repeater), operating while revoked (repeater) and ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order (repeater) charges. If convicted, the maximum penalty is six years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.

According to the complaint:
River Falls police were dispatched at 12:49 p.m. Jan. 25 to Shooter’s Pub (107 E. Elm St.) for man allegedly “flashing people.” Dispatch said the man left the scene in a red Pontiac. Officers located the vehicle speeding east on Cascade Avenue and followed it to Highway 65. They saw the vehicle cross the center and white fog lines, abruptly brake and nearly stop before entering the Highway 65/Cemetery Road roundabout.

Police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it continued west on Cemetery Road without stopping before turning north onto Wasson Lane. The vehicle rapidly accelerated, reaching speeds of roughly 65 mph. A police sergeant terminated the chase since the license plate had been identified. Police deactivated their lights and siren and saw the vehicle turn west onto Cascade Avenue, then north onto Sixth Street. The vehicle crashed near Sixth and Maple streets into a snowbank; Reeverts left the vehicle running and fled the scene. He narrowly missed striking a parked van.

Officers located him near Fourth and Pine streets. He had blood coming from his right hand but denied any involvement in the crash. Hs speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol. Police placed him in handcuffs and transported him to the station for further questioning.

A witness told police Reeverts had been belligerent at Shooter’s but wanted to remain anonymous. Allina EMS evaluated Reeverts and recommended he be taken to River Falls Area Hospital. After receiving medical clearance, police conducted field sobriety tests and obtained a .110 BAC reading.

Reeverts told officers that he was living in a sober living house and attending drug court on a St. Croix County burglary charge. He admitted to drinking that night and said he panicked when he saw police behind him, but later said he didn’t know they were cops. He said after fleeing the crash, he had fallen at least twice, injuring his knee and hand. He was cooperative with police as they transported him to Pierce County Jail.

He was scheduled to appear at preliminary hearing at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 3.