A Grasston man is facing charges after leading officers on a high-speed chase that started in Braham and continued into Kanabec County.
Jefferey Lynn Bourcy, 38, was charged Aug. 25 before Judge Tammi Fredrickson in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and misdemeanors reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. Bail was set at $75,000 without conditions or $25,000 with conditions and next court appearance for Oct. 13.
The incident started around 7 p.m. Aug. 23 in Braham and continued into Kanabec County with speeds reaching up to 126 mph. Bourcy’s vehicle eventually slid into a ditch and he fled on foot. A perimeter was established and a Chisago County K-9 assisted in tracking Bourcy.
According to the criminal complaint:
On Aug. 23 at 6:54 p.m., Braham Police officer Eric Baumgart observed a Chevrolet Camaro traveling southbound on Main Avenue in the city of Braham. When Baumgart entered the license plate number displayed on the vehicle, the check revealed the registered owner of the vehicle was under a suspended driver’s license.
Baumgart turned his squad around driving southbound on Main Avenue where at approximately 6:55 p.m. he observed the same Camaro pull out of the Braham Liquor Store parking lot headed southbound. Baumgart identified the driver as Bourcy. As Bourcy turned into the Kline St. Clair gas station, Baumgart followed. Bourcy pulled up to the pump at which point Baumgart activated his squad and emergency lights. Baumgart observed Bourcy look into the mirror of the car and then proceed toward the exit of the gas station parking lot, where he stopped briefly before rapidly accelerating north on Main Avenue.
Baumgart activated his squad siren and advised Isanti County Dispatch of the pursuit, noting Bourcy continued north out of Isanti County and into Kanabec County traveling at speeds over 100 mph. As the vehicles approached 120th Avenue, Bourcy was clocked traveling 123 mph on radar. As the vehicles came upon slower traffic, Bourcy was observed driving in the opposite lane of traffic and as the vehicles reached Highway 70, Bourcy forced two vehicles out of the traffic lane and onto the shoulder. Radar speed of Bourcy’s vehicle indicated it was traveling at 126 mph.
As the vehicles approached the intersection with Kanabec County Road 43, Baumgart observed Bourcy had slowed and was planning on turning or stopping before turning eastbound on 133rd Avenue. Baumgart observed the vehicle driven by Bourcy was out of control and began fish-tailing before regaining control continuing eastbound into Pine County. When the vehicles reached Brunswick Road, the Bourcy’s vehicle forced another vehicle onto the shoulder while he passed and continued eastbound for a few more miles with the vehicle reaching 113 mph on gravel roads.
As Bourcy came to Royalton Road, Baumgart observed his vehicle was smoking or over-heating and the vehicle was sliding and appeared to be trying to go southbound on Royalton Road. Bourcy was not able to complete the turn and the vehicle slid partially into the ditch, where he and his passenger exited and began to flee on foot.
Baumgart pulled up and observed Bourcy running into the woods and followed him until he could no longer see Bourcy. He then turned around and observed the female passenger lying in the grass near the ditch. The female passenger was detained and secured in the squad. A perimeter was established, and a Chisago County K-9 began tracking Bourcy who was eventually located south of the location where the vehicle came to a stop.