West Fargo man arrested after chase in Richland county, Fargo

RICHLAND COUNTY, N.D. (KVRR) — A West Fargo man is under arrest after an alleged high-speed chase early Tuesday morning, Sept. 2.

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, at around 1 a.m., troopers reported a 1995 Cadillac Seville headed south, at a high rate of speed, on Interstate 29, near the Horace exit.

A Cass County Sheriff’s deputy initiated an active pursuit of the car that sped up to 118 mph, according to the deputy.

The chase entered Richland County, where NDHP took over the pursuit and Richland County Sheriff’s deputies set up spike strips at the Wahpeton exit, but the vehicle left the interstate before reaching the exit.

NDHP says the pursuit resumed after a Richland County deputy found a car matching the description near mile marker 30 after the vehicle fled north on I-29 when the deputy attempted a traffic stop.

They deployed spike strips at mile marker 52 which punctured the front passenger side tire of the car.

Another NDHP trooper stationed at mile marker 54 reported the car passed his location at speeds of more than 100 mph.

NDHP says the car took the 52nd Avenue eastbound exit, traveling into Fargo at a high rate of speed, where troopers then stopped pursuing due to safety concerns.

The Fargo Police Department reported that they found a vehicle on University Drive matching the description of the vehicle that fled.

Police followed the car to an apartment complex at 35th Avenue and 11th Street in Fargo.

That’s where police say the driver exited the car and fled on foot.

Police arrested the man, whom they’ve identified as Christopher Lee Pankowski, 42, of West Fargo.

Pankowski is facing charges of Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under suspension, DUI-Drugs, Unlawful display of license plates, DUI refusal-1st Offense, Fleeing a Peace Officer, Reckless endangerment with extreme indifference, and with an outstanding felony warrant from Cass County.