$100K Bail for Woman Who Crashed Into Rochester Govt Building
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Bail was set at $100,000 today for the Rochester woman who was arrested Thursday night for allegedly creating mayhem on several busy roads in northwest Rochester before crashing into a government building.
35-year-old Megan Elizabeth Swanstrom was arraigned in Olmsted County Court on felony charges of obstructing legal process and fleeing police. She also faces a gross misdemeanor DWI charge.
The charges say that she told an officer that "she decided to play bumper cars because officers were following her around like "b****s"
According to the criminal complaint, Swanstrom was driving a pickup truck that led Rochester Police Officers on a slow speed chase after the vehicle was observed by an officer on routine patrol crashing into the back of another vehicle in the construction zone on North Broadway just before 7:30 PM. The court document says the pickup did not stop and the driver drove around construction cones into the opposing lane of traffic, causing other drivers to slam on the brakes.
At that point, the officer activated emergency lights on the squad car and the driver of the pickup truck drove over the median onto the closed section of the roadway, which caused the vehicle's left front tire to go flat. The criminal complaint says the pursuit then continued west on Elton Hills Drive Northwest and and West River Parkway, with the pickup swerving into oncoming traffic and colliding with another vehicle.
The court document says another motorist had to drive completely over the curb to avoid a head-on collision before the pickup driven by Swanstrom left the road and continued traveling on the sidewalk. The court document says Rochester police attempted to block traffic near the intersection of 37th Street and 9th Avenue, but the pickup deliberately crashed into two squad cars and nearly caused another head-on collision before jumping multiple curbs and crashing into the Rochester Development Services and Infrastructure Center Building at 4001 W. River Parkway and coming to a stop inside the entryway.
The charges say Swanstrom was taken into custody and the arresting officer indicated she appeared to be under the influence of some type of substance. The criminal complaint says Swanstrom stated that she was pregnant and had a methamphetamine pipe in her bra. The document also indicates that she stated that "she decided to play bumper cars because officers were following her around like "b****s"
According to the criminal complaint, one of the arresting officers also noted odd behavior that included dancing and telling officers that her name was Isis. It also states that, while she was being transferred to medical care, an officer heard her say, "I am high on meth."
Swanstrom is scheduled to return to court for another hearing next week.
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