FRAZEE, Minn. (Valley News Live) – A Detroit Lakes man was arrested Monday night after fleeing from police and hiding in the Ottertail River for hours.
According to the Frazee Police Department officers were alerted about a potentially impaired driver in the city of Frazee. Officials say an officer located the vehicle and made contact with the driver, 28-year-old Cole Frazen. Officers initiated a field sobriety test which determined that Frazen was impaired.
Officials say Frazen took off and was tased by police but he wasn’t detained and continued running, eventually ending up in the Ottertail River.
Police called in additional units from the Detroit Lakes Police Department, Becker County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol as well as Essentia EMS and Frazee Rescue.
Police say they attempted to coerce Frazen out of the river but were unsuccessful and drones were launched. Frazen then went into the cattails where he buried himself in the mud and camouflaged himself with cattail reeds.
Law enforcement officials say after several hours Frazen made his way to land and was nearly apprehended but he ran back into the river to evade authorities. Deputies in an airboat eventually found him around 8:55 p.m. but he was uncooperative so a second airboat was requested.
Frazen was taken into custody around 9:55 p.m. he faces charges of driving while impaired, fleeing on foot, obstruction of justice, and a felony court order violation.
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