Guilty Plea For Chase Ending With Crash Into Rochester Restaurant

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A guilty plea has been entered by a Rochester man who crashed a vehicle into a local restaurant during a police pursuit earlier this year.

Guilty Plea Entered in Police Pursuit Case

Olmsted County court records show that 35-year-old Sebastijan Mileusnich admitted to a felony DWI charge in exchange for the dismissal of a felony fleeing police charge. The court documents indicate that, due to his criminal history, state sentencing guidelines recommend a prison sentence of more than four years.

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Rochester Officer Witnessed Dangerous Driving

The criminal complaint in the case alleged that Mileusnich was observed by a Rochester police officer driving through a red light at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and 11th Avenue Northwest on the evening of February 20. The officer also reported that Mileusnich nearly caused multiple collisions when he stopped in the middle of the busy intersection.

Lost Control and Collided With Restaurant

When the officer activated the emergency lights on the squad car, the court document says Mileusnich responded by speeding westbound on Civic Center Drive while swerving around other vehicles and having difficulty staying on the road. The pursuing officer indicated that speeds reached 70 mph during the pursuit before Mileusnich turned onto 16th Street Southwest, where he failed to navigate a curve. His vehicle hit a curb, went airborne, and crashed into a road sign and a light pole before striking the outside wall of a nearby restaurant.

Mileusnich is scheduled to be sentenced in late July. His guilty plea indicates prosecutors will request a 46-month prison sentence, while his attorneys will ask the court for a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines.