Pursuit Crosses State Lines; Driver Taken into Custody

The Cass County Sheriff's Office says that 39-year-old Nicholas Wessels fled a traffic stop after deputies attempted to arrest him for active warrants.

CASS and CLAY COUNTIES, N.D. and MN (KVRR) – A 39-year-old Moorhead man is in custody at the Clay County Jail after authorities say he led them on a pursuit that crossed the North Dakota – Minnesota border.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the situation began just before 3 A.M. on February 14, when a deputy conducted a traffic stop on County Road 17 near 64th Avenue North. During that stop, they determined the driver of the stopped vehicle, 39-year-old Nicholas Wessels, had multiple outstanding warrants. When authorities attempted to arrest Wessels, he fled the scene.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were successful in deploying a deflation device that caused damage to Wessels’ tires; however, he continued fleeing, causing damage to the roadway. He then entered Minnesota via 40th Avenue North.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Moorhead Police Department deployed their own tire deflation device after the vehicle entered Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle crashed, and Mr. Wessels fled on foot. He was then apprehended and booked into the Clay County Jail.

There were two female passengers in the car with Wessels. They were both uninjured and released from the scene without charges.