A Red Wing man caught speeding nearly 30 mph over the limit landed himself in further hot water by leading police into Minnesota and back, drunk driving and possessing drugs and a loaded gun in hisvehicle.

Raul Antonio Prado, 31, posted a $5,000 signature bond Monday, July 22 in Pierce County Circuit Courton felony possession of narcotic drugs, operate firearm while intoxicated, resisting/failing to stop, OWI-third and possess drug paraphernalia charges. If convicted, the maximum penalty he faces isup to 3.5years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.

According to the complaint:

A Pierce County deputy running stationary radar at 2:37 a.m. July 20 at Highway 63 and 825th Street(north intersection) in the town of Trenton clocked a blue Toyota Corolla going 83 mph in a 55-mph-zone while heading southbound. As the officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle, the driver activated his right turn signal and began turning abruptly onto 825th Street (south intersection) before swerving back onto Highway 63.

As the vehicle began crossing onto the High Bridge, the driver swerved to the right and almost struck aguardrail. The officer relayed the information to Goodhue County through dispatch as the vehicle sped into Red Wing.

Fearing the driver would cause a crash, the deputy pursued him while going the speed limit. He caught up to him again at West Third Street and Great River Road in Red Wing where the driverhad stopped in a left-hand turn lane at a red light. The vehicle ran the red light and headed north  on the Great River Road toward downtown before the officer lost sight of the sedan. He located it again heading northbound on Potter Street near the Great River Road and followed it until it headed back onto Highway 63 northbound over the bridge into Pierce County.

The officer activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop on Highway 63 at the 825th Street south intersection. The vehicle failed to stop and finally turned abruptly onto 825th Street (northintersection) and into the Woodshed parking lot.

The driver, identified as Prado, opened his door and tried to get out of the car. He told police he didn’t pull over because he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He had slurred speech, bloodshot, glossy eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol. Prado took out the vehicle’s owner’s manual when asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Another deputy arrived on the scene and saw open intoxicants in plain view. Prado couldn’t remember his current address and had a suspended Arizona driver’sl icense (due to OWI in 2023). The vehicle’s plates also didn’t match the vehicle.

Prado admitted to having one or two mixed tequila drinks that night and refused to perform field sobriety tests or submit to a Preliminary Breath Test. He told officers he hadn’t been driving and was going to leave his car and go home.

Once Prado was under arrest, police searched his car, where they found a baggie of cocaine, a loadedS &W M&P9 Shield handgun with a loaded magazine and chambered bullet, another magazine, a prescription bottle containing THC, and a blue pill that tested positive for Fentanyl.

Officers transported him to River Falls Area Hospital for a blood draw, then to Pierce County Jail without incident. At the jail, staff located a small red fabric pouch tucked into his front pants pocket that contained a brown crystalline substance, an animal tooth, a stone and a small vial. Prado said it was a good luck charm andhe didn’t know its contents. Narcotics tests were inconclusive.

Prado was cited for OWI-third, speeding, operate without valid license and resisting/failing to stop/fleeing. He is scheduled to appear at 2:15 p.m. Aug. 22 for a status conference in Pierce County Circuit Court.