Man Jailed After Allegedly Fleeing Police, Driving Drunk on the Lake Wobegon Trail

(KNSI) — A man from Burnsville is behind bars in Stearns County, accused of running from police and driving on the Wobegon Trail.

According to the criminal complaint, someone called the police after seeing an SUV driving all over the road and in the ditch on Interstate 94 near mile marker 128 at about 12:30 Tuesday morning. An officer in the area saw taillights on the Lake Wobegon Trail, which runs parallel to the interstate. Court documents say the person behind the wheel, 58-year-old Michael Leier Jr., was driving east on the trail at a high rate of speed. Civilian vehicles are not allowed on the trail. The officer estimates he was going between 40 and 60 miles an hour. Leier allegedly drove through the grass between the trail and County Road 65. He was also driving the wrong way.

The officer tried to pull Leier over, but he said Leier continued driving at a high rate of speed on County Road 65 and missed a corner, going off the road and into the ditch, nearly rolling the SUV. He allegedly drove out of the ditch and back onto 65, where he continued until they reached Melrose, where Leier stopped and was arrested.

The criminal complaint says the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Leier, and after he was taken to the hospital for observation, a fluid test was ordered.

In a Mirandized statement, Leier admitted to drinking while driving and had been drinking since 8:00 p.m. He said he didn’t remember driving on the trail or into the ditch.

Leier is charged with fleeing police and DWI.

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