A.L. man pleads guilty to leading police on chase

Published 10:00 pm Monday, April 30, 2018

An Albert Lea man who led officers on a motorcycle chase in July 2016 pleaded guilty Monday in Freeborn County District Court.

Jordon Allen VanRyswyk, 29, pleaded guilty to fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

Jordon Allen VanRyswyk

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Court documents state VanRyswyk was charged after an officer was on routine patrol at about 8:30 p.m. July 29, 2016, when he saw a man riding a motorcycle in the city park near Minnesota Highway 13.

At one point, the officer activated his emergency lights as the motorcycle drove away at about 60 mph. Later in the pursuit, the officer activated his sirens, and VanRyswyk pulled away, sped up and drove through the backyard of a residence, before crossing 220th Street and heading south onto Seath Drive, court documents state.

VanRyswyk later drove through another yard, and the motorcycle stalled after heading toward a cornfield, court documents state. The motorcycle then restarted and drove through a cornfield. After veering left into a heavily wooded area south of 220th Street, VanRyswyk was arrested. He was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea due to a wrist injury.

VanRyswyk admitted Monday to fleeing officers and called it a “momentary lapse of judgment.”

Sentencing is scheduled for June 29. VanRyswyk is expected to receive a probationary sentence.

In separate files, VanRyswyk is charged with fifth-degree meth possession, fifth-degree marijuana sale, fifth-degree controlled substance possession and possessing drug paraphernalia. Those charges are expected to be dismissed at sentencing.

About Sam Wilmes

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

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