TOWN OF OAK GROVE – A high speed car chase July 16 resulted in a vehicle fire, a foot pursuit and the arrest of a Minnesota man wanted for armed robbery in Hennepin County.

Deandre Amaud Harrington, 29, Columbia Heights, Minn., was ordered to pay $2,000 cash bond July 17 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony attempting to flee or elude an officer, obstructing an officer, operate motor vehicle while revoked and failure to install ignition interlock device. If convicted, he faces up to 3.5 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

According to the complaint:

Dispatch notified Prescott police and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies of a pursuit coming over the Highway 10 bridge from Washington County, Minn. into Prescott. The vehicle was a black 2012 GMC Yukon with Minnesota plates, which headed over the bridge and traveled southbound on Highway 35.

Prescott officers said the vehicle shut all its lights off near 1208^th Street in the town of Oak Grove. The Yukon was traveling on three tires and one rim, which was sparking. A Pierce County deputy intercepted the vehicle, which he found pulled onto the south shoulder near County Road QQ. When he pulled behind it, the Yukon took off again heading south on Highway 35 at a high rate of speed. As the chase went through the Big River area, speeds reached 85 mph. The vehicle crossed the center line a couple times and near 468^th Avenue, the front tire rim came off, sending the vehicle into the south ditch.

The driver got out of the vehicle and took off running into a wooded area. He ignored commands to stop, prompting the officer to run after him. The suspect tripped and complied with commands to stay on the ground. However, he refused to put his hands behind his back. He tried to swipe the Taser out of the officer’s hands. A Prescott officer arrived and helped the deputy cuff the suspect.

While searching the man, police pulled multiple IDs out of his pockets. He refused to identify himself and stayed silent. Suddenly, officers heard a loud bang and saw the vehicle’s engine compartment had caught fire. They used fire extinguishers to get the fire under control.

EMS transported the suspect to River Falls Area Hospital, where he was medically cleared before being transported to Pierce County Jail.

Staff were able to identify him through database records as Harrington. He was shown to have a revoked driving status due to an alcohol-related offense with an ignition interlock device requirement. Harrington also had warrants from Dakota and Hennepin counties for fleeing an officer and armed robbery with $100,000 bail.

Harrington is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2:15 p.m. July 25 in Pierce County Circuit Court.