The St. Paul man who led authorities on a high-speed chase in September that started in Albert Lea and ended in Worth County with a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy firing three rounds entered a plea agreement Tuesday in Worth County District Court.

Ryan Joseph Amabile, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree theft, in exchange for charges of eluding and second-degree robbery to be dismissed at sentencing. He had been slated to begin a jury trial on Wednesday.

During the course of the chase, which exceeded 100 mph, he reportedly struck at least two cars, displayed a handgun and attempted to carjack a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu in Worth County driven by a Northwood woman. Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Gilmore fired three rounds through his patrol car windshield to stop the carjacking, and at that time Amabile went down to the ground and was taken into custody.

Amabile was found to have several felony warrants out of Minnesota and was driving a vehicle with fraudulent license plates that was stolen from St. Louis Park.

Iowa DCI Special Agent Chris Callaway said there were no concerns about Gilmore’s use of force, and the case remains under investigation regarding Amabile’s actions in Minnesota.

Freeborn County Attorney David Walker said charges in Minnesota are under review through the county attorney’s office.

Amabile is scheduled to be sentenced for the Iowa charge Dec. 9.

First-degree theft carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $1,000.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.