An Oxford Township man is facing two felony charges after allegedly crashing a stolen jeep into a tree and then fleeing into a swamp to avoid law enforcement.
Alex William Palmer, 18, was charged Aug. 25 before Judge Tammi Fredrickson in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge with felony receiving stolen property and felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Bail was set at $30,000 and his next court appearance for Sept. 14.
The 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, valued at $2,000, was reported stolen on July 24 from a residence near Pine City. At the time of his arrest on Aug. 23, Palmer was located at a residence along the 26360 block of Lyons Street Northeast, located along the Isanti and Chisago county border, and had active felony warrants out for his arrest.
The case involved the efforts of the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office and the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the criminal complaint:
On Aug. 23 at 2:20 p.m., Chisago County deputies responded to a residence in Oxford Township in an attempt to locate a man on a Chisago County Apprehension and Detention Order. While at the location, the deputies learned Palmer was on the property and had active felony warrants.
While searching the rural property, the deputies heard vehicle engine noise, and it sounded like a vehicle or vehicles were driving toward the woods at a high rate of speed. The deputies drove to the sound of the vehicles and observed a Jeep traveling toward them. When the operator of the Jeep saw the squad car, it attempted to turn around, and flee from the officers. However, the Jeep became stuck, and the occupants fled the jeep on foot. While the officers pursued on foot, Palmer circled back to the Jeep and began to flee again. Officers pursued the Jeep until Palmer crashed into a tree. After the crash, Palmer once again fled on foot until deputies located him hiding in a swamp.
Isanti County Investigator Kevin Carlson responded to the scene and confirmed the Jeep was stolen from Pine County on July 24, 2016. Palmer was placed under arrest and transported to the Isanti County Jail.
Under Miranda, Palmer said he bought the Jeep for $50 and a smart watch and indicated he should have known the vehicle was stolen.
Palmer said he intended to drive the Jeep off of the property, but when he saw squad cars, he attempted to drive the Jeep through a swamp to evade law enforcement. Palmer said he drove the Jeep at a speed of approximately 50 mph until he crashed into a tree. After the crash, he fled the Jeep on foot and ran into a swamp. He said he covered himself in mud to avoid detection by law enforcement and the law enforcement K-9.