Austin man sentenced in Albert Lea police chase

Published 10:39 pm Thursday, December 14, 2017

An Austin man charged with leading officers on a high-speed chase in October 2016 in Albert  Lea was sentenced to more than 1 1/2 years in prison on Wednesday in Freeborn County District Court.

Coniah Horton

Coniah Emmerson Horton, 33, was given credit for 434 days served. Horton is expected to serve the remaining executed prison time.

Court documents state Horton was charged after an Albert Lea Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop at about 10:45 p.m. Oct. 4 near the intersection of James Avenue and Fourth Street for a vehicle registration violation.

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Horton reportedly did not slow down his vehicle when an officer activated his emergency lights, and accelerated to approximately 41 mph, blowing through a stop sign at the intersection of St. John Avenue and East Fifth Street, court documents state.

Horton then turned east on Sixth Street, and reportedly accelerated to around 44 mph, running through another stop sign before turning north on Frank Avenue and cutting into oncoming traffic.

Court documents state Horton turned west on Fifth Street and accelerated to approximately 59 mph, weaving into oncoming traffic.

He reportedly could not navigate a bend in the road on Virginia Place, resulting in the vehicle going over a curb and resting partially in a yard.

Horton opened the driver’s door and ran toward James Avenue while an officer chased him, court documents state.

Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted police in establishing a perimeter around the area. Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol K-9 unit officers began an area search to locate Horton.

The K-9 search reportedly noticed a door partially ajar on an unattached garage in the 300 block of East Seventh Street about one block from where the vehicle crashed. The K-9 reportedly strongly alerted at the entry door, and Horton was found and taken into custody.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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