Suspect Who Led Police on Chase in Stolen Squad Car Identified
Charles William Childs, 28, of Welch, is being held as of Saturday afternoon after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen squad car.
The man accused of stealing a police squad car and leading police on a chase northwest of Red Wing on Friday, March 19, is being held at the Goodhue County Jail on a slew of pending charges.
Charles William Childs, 28, of Welch, is being held as of Saturday afternoon on probable cause charges of assault, motor vehicle theft, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, criminal damage to property, police radio use and interfering with a 911 call.
Childs allegedly rammed his truck into the sally port of the Prairie Island Police Department on Sturgeon Lake Rd. and took off in their fully marked Chevy Tahoe around 10 a.m.
Officers pursued Childs for about 40 minutes, while he yelled obscenities over the police radio, tossed the department-issued rifle and rammed an occupied squad car, injuring two officers.
Childs led authorities on a winding route before the vehicle's tires were deflated with stop sticks and he was eventually apprehended in a field northwest of the Treasure Island Resort & Casino around 10:45 a.m.
Paramedics were called for his minor injuries and the injuries of the two officers, who said they weren't seriously hurt.
A SWAT team, armored BearCat vehicle and a State Patrol helicopter were among the law enforcement personnel who swarmed the area Friday morning, with the busy hotel nearby being placed in lockdown until Childs was arrested.