By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor

LINCOLN COUNTY – A River Falls man, 25, is in custody after leading law enforcement on a high speed chase early Monday morning.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, a 911 call was received just after 12 a.m. reporting a suspicious vehicle parked on the dead end of 14th Street in the City of Merrill. A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, which fled at a high rate of speed after the deputy attempted to stop it.

Lincoln County deputies, along with officers from the Merrill Police Department, engaged in a chase eastbound on County Road G in the Town of Pine River, with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. A backpack, which was tossed from the vehicle during the chase, was recovered and found to contain drug paraphernalia and a large amount of money.

The vehicle stopped at Town Line Road, and the driver fled on foot into the woods. The K9 Nina tracked the suspect, locating him about a mile from where he fled, hidden under dirt, bark and leaves.

The suspect was charged with felony fleeing, probation violations, possession of drug paraphernalia and several traffic violations, including operation after revocation.