A Perham man racked up nine charges after stealing a vehicle in Fargo and driving through and around Detroit Lakes before being stopped by authorities on Saturday, Aug. 15.

At approximately 1:27 p.m., the Becker County Sheriff’s Office received notification, via a Flock camera, that a stolen vehicle was traveling westbound on U.S. Hwy. 10 in the City of Detroit Lakes. 

The vehicle, a 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck, was stolen from the City of Fargo. Officers from the Detroit Lakes Police Department, Becker County Sheriff’s Office, and Callaway Police Department located the vehicle being driven by Cody Allen Willson, age 37, of Perham.

After confirmation of the vehicle being stolen, the vehicle fled from officers traveling north on U.S. Hwy. 59 at speeds of over 90 miles per hour. The vehicle went west on Wheeler Lake Road and then south on 230th Avenue back to U.S. Hwy. 10. 

The vehicle then went west on U.S. Hwy. 10 in the eastbound lane. When the vehicle turned south onto Co. Hwy. 11, an officer performed a PIT maneuver ending the pursuit. 

Willson was taken into custody and booked into jail with the following charges:

• Driver Fails to Stop for Stop Sign; 

• Reckless driving; Drives Consciously Disregarding a Substantial or Unjustifiable Risk; 

• Receiving Stolen Property; 

• Fugitive from Justice from Other State;  

• DWI – Third-Degree Driving While Impaired; 1 Aggravating Factor; 

• DWI – Operate Motor Vehicle Under Influence of Controlled Substance; 

• DWI – Operate Motor Vehicle – Any Amount Schedule I/II Drugs/metabolite; Not cannabis/hemp;

• Drugs – 5th Degree – Possess Schedule 1,2,3,4 or paraphernalia residual – Not cannabis/hemp; CANCIPS-Driving after cancellation-inimical to public safety; 

• Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle.

The case remains under investigation.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Audubon Police Department, Detroit Lakes Police Department, Audubon Rescue, Essentia-St. Mary’s EMS, Lake Park Police Department, and Callaway Police Department assisted the Sheriff’s Office. There were no injuries resulting from this incident.