A Brook Park man who appeared in Isanti County District Court about one month ago is back in court after leading deputies on a high-speed chase, fleeing into a cornfield and fighting with the deputies and a K-9 officer as he was apprehended.
Scott Arlen Lange, 50, was charged before Judge James Dehn July 26 in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge with felony fifth-degree drug possession and posted a non-cash bond July 28. On Aug. 4, a felony warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the case.
Lange
On Aug. 17, around 11:20 p.m., Lange was located by law enforcement in a vehicle in Springvale Township and pursued, since there were outstanding warrants out for his arrest. A high-speed chase ensued, and after fleeing into a cornfield, Lange was arrested utilizing a K-9 officer and Isanti County deputies. During his arrest, Lange tried choking the K-9 and was violent toward the deputies.
Lange appeared before Dehn Aug. 19 in Isanti County District Court where he was charged with two felony charges of fourth-degree assault against a peace officer; felony fleeing a peace officer in motor vehicle; gross misdemeanors obstruction of the legal process, fifth-degree drug possession and causing bodily harm to a public safety dog; misdemeanor traffic DWI, operating motor vehicle under influence of controlled substance; and petty misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set at $400,000 without conditions or $200,000 with conditions and his next court appearance for Sept. 1. As of Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 23, Lange remained in custody at the Isanti County Jail.
According to the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office, at the time of Lange’s arrest on Aug. 17, there were also multiple felony warrants for his arrest from other agencies besides Isanti County.
According to court records, Lange was convicted of second-degree murder in June 1992 in Pine County District Court for killing a Pine County deputy sheriff with a flashlight following a traffic stop in August 1991 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Also, Lange was sentenced in Isanti County District Court in March 2009 to 15 months in prison for felony third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm.
Isanti County Sheriff Chris Caulk commended the work of the officers involved in the case.
“I was very impressed after reading the police reports that the officers handled themselves in a professional manner,” Caulk said. “The individual they thought was in that vehicle, and then verified to be in the vehicle, is known to be increasingly hostile with law enforcement. The officers knew about the individual’s past, but we have to act on what we know in the present.”
Utilizing the K-9 was reasonable in Caulk’s opinion.
“Deploying the K-9 was an appropriate use,” Caulk said. “The subject was knowingly committing a felony by fleeing from police, and after he ran into the cornfield he hadn’t been searched, so our officers did not know what possibly could have been on him at the time. We used our K-9 to avoid a possibly deadly force encounter, and we were able to bring Mr. Lange in as quickly as possible.”
Caulk said none of the deputies were injured in the altercation. The K-9, Kojack, sustained a deep scratch by his eyes, and Lange was treated at Cambridge Medical Center for dog bites.
“At any point in time, Mr. Lange could have avoided all of this by turning himself in on the outstanding warrants,” Caulk said. “Or after law enforcement activated their sirens and emergency lights, Mr. Lange could have stopped. I feel we used the appropriate amount of force necessary to bring him into custody.”
According to the criminal complaint:
On Aug. 17, at 11:19 p.m., Isanti County Deputy Jonathan VanderVegt was on routine patrol in the area of Springvale Township when he observed a light on the west side of a barn along the 36850 block of Lily Street Northwest, a residence where Lange stayed or lived.
VanderVegt knew Lange had multiple warrants for his arrest and also a felony warrant in Isanti County. VanderVegt parked near the residence to observe any traffic going through the area that could be related to Lange and he could make his arrest.
A few minutes later, VanderVegt observed a Chevrolet Monte Carlo and knew it could possibly be Lange driving. VanderVegt observed the Monte Carlo begin to swerve in traffic and then slowed as it neared the stop sign at Highway 47 and 377th Avenue Northwest before turning south without coming to a complete stop.
VanderVegt radioed dispatch and advised he would be stopping the vehicle. The vehicle then began pulling away from the squad at a very high rate of speed, and VanderVegt advised dispatch the vehicle was not stopping and activated his lights and siren. VanderVegt was traveling at a speed of approximately 120 mph to maintain sight of the MonteCarlo. As the vehicle neared the intersection with Highway 95, VanderVegt began to catch up to the Monte Carlo and observed it turn east on Highway 95. The vehicle then passed another vehicle and increased speed to approximately 100 mph before turning onto 341st Avenue Northwest.
The high-speed chase ensued and more squads got involved. The squads went northbound on Isanti County Road 1 at speeds of 90-100 mph. The Monte Carlo eventually turned south on Lily Street Northwest before pulling back into the residence. The vehicle drove to the west side of the yard and stopped just short of a large corn field. The length of the pursuit at this point was approximately 9.75 miles.
Lange jumped out of the vehicle and ran toward the corn field. VanderVegt pursued on foot and released his K9 partner Kojak. VanderVegt was aware of the fact that Lange was wanted on an Isanti County felony warrant for controlled substances, multiple out-of-county warrants and for the current violation of felony fleeing. VanderVegt also knew Lange had previously been in prison for a conviction of killing a Pine County deputy with the deputy’s flashlight. He also knew Lange has a history of violent and dangerous behavior when dealing with law enforcement.
VanderVegt had arrested Lange approximately one month prior where he was very hostile during the course of the stop. Based upon VanderVegt’s knowledge of Lange’s current and past behavior and action, VanderVegt deployed his K-9 with the concern the situation could turn dangerous or deadly inside the corn field that was thick and dark.
VanderVegt eventually heard his K-9 engaging with Lange and ran to the location. He found Lange laying on his back and side holding the K9 by the neck attempting to choke the dog. VanderVegt assisted his K-9 in protecting him from injury or death by delivering kicks to Lange’s upper body and arms to get him to release his grip on the dog. Lange lost his hold of the dog and the dog then engaged Lange’s right ankle area. Lange continued to kick, fight and struggle causing the dog to re-engage the ankle just below the first bite.
Isanti County Deputy Noah Heiller and Sgt. Wade Book also arrived on the scene and assisted with detaining Lange.
After Lange was successfully and ultimately handcuffed and Kojak was secured by VanderVegt in the squad, Lange was also secured in the squad car. Lange stated multiple times the deputies should have killed him in the cornfield when they had the chance.
During the search incident to the arrest of Lange, a methamphetamine pipe was found in his pocket that later tested positive for methamphetamine. An inventory search of his vehicle indicated multiple beer cans that were accessible to the driver.
Lange proceeded to spit at VanderVegt through the cage of the squad car, getting bloody spit on VanderVegt’s right arm and sleeve. At Cambridge Medical Center, a search warrant was obtained for a blood draw and submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Forensic Laboratory, for testing. As VanderVegt was leaving the Cambridge Medical Center emergency room with Lange, Lange proceeded to spit at VanderVegt again. Lange was transported to the Isanti County Jail for booking.