WADENA — Two men were arrested after allegedly stealing a truck and leading officers in a pursuit on Thursday, March 31, through Wadena County.
The stolen vehicle was first reported traveling out of Hubbard County south on Otter Tail County Road 75 from County Road 8. The caller eventually lost sight of the vehicle, which was a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado.
Law enforcement agencies from the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Wadena Police Department, Menahga Police Department and the Verndale Police Department searched for the vehicle, according to a Wadena County Sheriff's Office news release.
The Verndale Police Department located the suspect vehicle southbound on County Road 23 in the area of Bluegrass. A pursuit ensued, going across Wadena County on 210th Street. The pursuit ended with the suspect vehicle going into the ditch at the intersection of 210th Street and 111th Ave. The two male occupants took off on foot and were apprehended a short distance later. They were identified as Tommy Basswood, age 20, and Brett Stevens, age 27, both from Ponsford, Minn.
Basswood and Stevens were transported to the Wadena County Jail where they are awaiting to be formally charged by the Wadena County Attorney’s Office. The Wadena County in custody list notes charges of fleeing a police officer and receiving stolen property are pending for both men.
Two Wadena County Squad cars were damaged as a result of the pursuit and the ice packed road conditions. There were no injuries resulting from this incident.
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Agencies involved in the pursuit were the Verndale Police Department and the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office.
Tri-County Ambulance, Minnesota State Patrol and K&K Towing assisted on scene.
