Pelican Rapids Man Arrested for Fleeing from State Patrol and Damaging Soybeans

Ryan Tappe. (OTCDF)

New York Mills, MN – A Pelican Rapids man was arrested for fleeing from a state trooper and destroying soybeans in a field.

Prosecutors say that a state trooper was heading south on Highway 106 in Otter Tail County at around 7:35 p.m. Friday, when a vehicle approached them at a high speed. The trooper clocked the vehicle going 75 mph in a 60 mph zone. They then turned around and observed the vehicle turn onto County Road 142 and clocked its speed at 86 mph.

The trooper then watched the vehicle turn onto 550^th avenue, nearly lose control, and go into the west ditch before ending up in a soybean field. The trooper said that due to the erratic driving, the vehicle cause damage to the soybeans.

Court documents say the trooper then activated their emergency lights and the vehicle continued driving over a hill. When the trooper got over the hill, they found the vehicle was stopped, the driver door was open, anda woman was still sitting in the vehicle.

The woman told the trooper that 40-year-old Ryan Tappe had been driving the vehicle and when he passed the state patrol vehicle, he panicked and continued driving. Once in the soybean field, Tappe said, “I am bailing,” and exited the vehicle.

A landowner near the location called into dispatch and informed them he had a trail cam picture of a male walking on his property at around 7:52 p.m. Tappe was not located until the next morning when he was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Tappe made his first court appearance Monday morning and has been charged with fleeing from a peace officer in a vehicle, fleeing from a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle, and 4^th degree damage to property.