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Chase through two states ends with apprehension

A St. Croix Falls man was taken into custody on a number of charges after fleeing from officers in a chase that encompassed Wisconsin and Minnesota before being apprehended in Luck later in the afternoon.
On Monday, April 27th, 2020 at 12:30 p.m., St Croix Falls police officers and Polk County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to apprehend Jason Diers-Leske, age 32, for a probation warrant, escape, and battery to a police officer. Diers-Leske was found outside of a residence in the City of St. Croix Falls and resisted arrest. He was able to make it to his vehicle. When a deputy attempted to remove Diers-Leske from the vehicle, the deputy was struck by the suspect’s vehicle door as he backed up and fled. The deputy sustained minor injuries.
Officers pursued Diers-Leske. The pursuit went into Minnesota and back into Polk County. Deputies lost sight of the vehicle and discontinued pursuing it. With the aid of citizens, the vehicle was spotted in the Village of Luck. After Diers-Leske almost struck a pedestrian, officers began pursuing him once again. Diers-Leske turned into a residence outside of the Village of Luck and struck a squad. He then crashed his vehicle into a swamp. Diers-Leske then stole another vehicle from that residence, struck another squad, and then fled on foot after crashing the truck into trees.
A perimeter was established and Diers-Leske was taken into custody by Polk County with assistance from K9 Jaeger.
Diers-Leske has been charged with two counts of battery or threat to judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer, escape – criminal arrest, resisting or obstructing an officer, vehicle operator flee/elude officer, 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety, resist officer – substantial bodily harm/soft tissue injury, two counts of 1st degree recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property (over $2500), criminal damage to property, possession of methamphetamine, all with a repeater modifier, and cause injury/operate while under the influence.
Diers-Leske appeared at an April 28 initial appearance, A $50,000 cash bond was set. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2020 in Polk County court.
Assisting the Polk County Sheriff’s Office with the apprehension was St. Croix Falls Police, Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, Luck Police Department, Frederic Police Department, Barron County Sheriff’s Office, Turtle Lake Police Department, Burnett County Sheriff’s Department, WI DNR, WI State Patrol, St. Croix Tribal Police Department, and the MN State Patrol. Thanks to the numerous citizens that aided in the location and apprehension of this dangerous individual.
The case remains under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

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