Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man convicted of a felony for leading a State Trooper on a high-speed chase into Rochester at speeds approaching 125 mph was sentenced this week.

According to court documents, the high-speed pursuit began on the night of October 8, 2023 when a State Trooper driving north on Highway 52 observed a speeding southbound vehicle just north of Zumbrota. The criminal complaint indicates that, after the trooper caught up with the vehicle, his radar measured his speed at 92 mph in the 65 mile-per-hour zone.

A Trooper Clocked His Car at 123 MPH on Highway 52

The court document says the trooper then activated his squad car's emergency lights and siren, but rather than pull over, the driver turned off the vehicle's headlights and taillights and "heavily accelerated." At that point, the fleeing vehicle's speed was clocked at 123 mph and the trooper turned off his emergency lights and siren before advising dispatchers of the situation.

The charges in the case state that other troopers and Rochester police responded, with the troopers deploying stop sticks just north of Rochester. The fleeing motorist then exited Highway 52 at 55th Street Northwest and sped through the intersection before going back onto the highway.

The pursuing troopers responded by attempting to box in the vehicle with their squad cars and, according to the criminal complaint, the fleeing vehicle sideswiped one of the law enforcement vehicles. The pursuit finally ended when the driver stopped along 41st Street Northwest and attempted to flee on foot, but was later apprehended.

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29-year-old Nathan Nyzaih Laquille Jones of Oakdale was charged with a felony count of fleeing police, a gross misdemeanor charge of damage to property, along with misdemeanor counts of fleeing police, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license.

Jones entered guilty pleas to the felony fleeing police charge and the gross misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property. He was sentenced this week to five years on probation and was given a stayed one year prison sentence that could be imposed if he violates the terms of his probation. Jones was also ordered to pay a $1000 fine and about $1300 in restitution.

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