Twin Cities Man and Woman Roll Stolen Pickup after Leading Blue Earth County Deputies on a Chase

A Farmington woman is in jail and a Maplewood man is in the hospital after a pursuit in Blue Earth County on Monday afternoon.

According to the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 3pm, a deputy observed a black GMC pickup traveling significantly slower than other traffic as it exited northbound 169 onto eastbound County Road 90.  The deputy initiated a traffic stop due to the suspicious driving conduct and because the window tint appeared to exceed the statutory limit.  While initiating the traffic stop, dispatch relayed information that the truck was reported stolen.

The deputy made contact with the driver, later identified as 27 year old Vaughn Harris of Maplewood from a distance while waiting for additional deputies to respond.  Harris told the deputy that his passenger, later identified as 40 year old Jessica Ann Nordrum of Farmington, was experiencing an overdose but then fled when the deputy called for medical assistance.  The pursuit went south on County Road 33, through Rapidan and onto the gravel portion of County Road 126 at speeds of around 80 miles per hour.

Dispatch informed pursuing deputies that the truck had been reported stolen in Okoboji, Iowa earlier in the day by suspects consistent with the appearance of Harris and Nordrum.  Deputies were also informed that a knife was involved in that incident.

Harris lost control at the 90 degree intersection with 171^st Street and rolled the truck into the ditch.  He fled on foot into the standing cornfield and fought with deputies but was taken into custody.  Deputies located Nordrum sitting in the cornfield a short distance away from the pickup and she was also taken into custody.

Harris and Nordrum were both transported from the scene by ambulance with non life threatening injuries and for their own safety due to statements and behavior consistent with illegal drug use.  Both had warrants for their arrests from other jurisdictions.

Nordrum was transferred to the Blue Earth County Jail on related charges during the evening.  Harris remains at the hospital.

The incident remains under investigation in collaboration with Okoboji Police.