By: News Intern Katherine Jones
BRAINERD- A 28-year-old driver who allegedly sped away from police and then lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a Brainerd home, faces criminal charges.
Zachary Lee Schneider of Harris appeared in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd yesterday, where he faced charges for three felonies — fifth-degree drug possession, first-degree property damage and fleeing a peace officer in a vehicle — and three misdemeanor charges of fleeing a peace officer by other means than in a vehicle, driving after revocation and not having proof of insurance.
The Brainerd Police Department reported while officers were on routine patrol about 1:48 a.m. on Monday, an officer observed a vehicle driving north on Sixth Street in Brainerd and attempted to stop the vehicle on suspicion of illegal drug activity. When the officer turned around to follow the vehicle, the driver increased speed and turned east onto Quince Street, police reported.
The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it continued east at a very high rate of speed, police reported. When the vehicle attempted to turn onto 10th Street, the driver lost control and ran off the road at the northeast corner of the intersection and collided with a house.
Schneider exited the vehicle and began fleeing on foot. The officer chased Schneider over a fence and into a backyard. Schneider continued running but got into the northwest corner of the backyard and was unable to scale a tall privacy fence. The officer drew his duty weapon and Schneider complied with clear verbal commands to get on the ground and was arrested.
According to defendant’s driving record, his license was revoked on March 6, 2018, and had not been reinstated. According to court records, Schneider has a prior conviction for fifth-degree drug possession from April 30, 2018.
