Man fled police in car, on foot

Talk about it

The Dakota County Attorney’s office says a 54-year-old Apple Valley man was drunk when he fled from Rosemount police in a car and on foot, then tried to fight the officer who caught him.

Richard Gordon Hicks caught the attention of Rosemount police March 3 when he failed to stop for a stop sign at the corner of 145th Street and Chippendale Avenue. Hicks also had a brake light out and failed to signal a turn onto Dodd Blvd., according to a complaint filed last week in the Dakota County Attorney’s office.

Hicks did not immediately stop when the officer turned on his lights and siren. According to the complaint, Hicks weaved between cars trying to escape the officer before stopping in a handicapped parking spot and fleeing on foot. Hicks eventually hid behind a shed and assumed a fighting stance when police found him, holding his keys in one clenched fist so they were sticking out between his knuckles.

The officer was able to take Hicks to the ground and arrest him.

According to the complaint, Hicks smelled strongly of alcohol and he had trouble walking. He refused to take any type of blood alcohol test.

Hicks’ driver’s license does not allow any alcohol use.

Hicks has been charged with fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a felony. If convicted he could face up to three years in jail and fines of up to $5,000. A gross misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired has a maximum sentence of one year and a maximum fine of $3,000. A charge of fleeing police on foot, a misdemeanor, has a maximum sentence of 90 days and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Tags: crime and courts, news, rosemount, crime