Cokato Man Charged in High Speed Police Chase

ST. CLOUD -- The driver who allegedly led authorities on a high speed chase from St. Augusta to Sauk Rapids last Friday is being held on $150-thousand bail.

29-year-old James Benson is charged with a felony count of fleeing police and two misdemeanors of driving after revocation and failure to stop for an accident.

According to the criminal complaint, the Cokato man is accused of leading authorities on a 23-mile chase which started south of St. Augusta and traveled through St. Cloud and into Sauk Rapids.  It reached speeds of about 100 miles-per-hour at times.

The chase lasted approximately 25 minutes and damaged both farm property near St. Augusta and several Stearns County Sheriff squad cars.

Benson was arrested after a sheriff's deputy was able to spin-out Benson's car at Benton Drive and Highway 15. Records show Benson tried to ram two police cars and continue on but was pulled from the vehicle and arrested.

Police say Benson was also wanted on several felony warrants.

No one was hurt in the incident.