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Continued: Deputies shoot man suspected of abducting wife

An armed man who allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife in Stearns County and led authorities on a two-county pursuit about dawn Tuesday was shot and critically wounded by a pursuing sheriff's deputy.

No one else was injured, and the 49-year-old from South Haven, Minn., was in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center.

In May, the man violated a restraining order against him involving his estranged wife. In that instance, the armed man held Stearns County sheriff's deputies at bay for several hours until he surrendered.

Deputies were called to a home in Fair Haven Township shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday on a report of a man who had kidnapped his estranged wife and a shot being fired.

Deputies in neighboring Wright County spotted the suspect's car on Hwy. 55 and a "slow-speed pursuit ensued" that led back into Stearns County, authorities said.

East of Kimball, the suspect slammed on his brakes, causing a Stearns County deputy to hit the suspect's vehicle. The woman escaped.

Deputies confronted the man, and two Wright County deputies opened fire, wounding the man.

Wright County deputies Jeremy Wirkkula, 29, and Matthew Treichler, 30 -- seven-year veterans -- were placed on administrative leave as a result of the shooting, standard procedure in such cases.

PAUL WALSH AND RODRIGO ZAMITH

Stillwater man faces 20 tax evasion charges

A man who operated an automotive repair business and is accused of not forwarding sales taxes he collected from his customers to the state told authorities that he dreaded the day he would get caught.

On Monday, charges were filed against Randy Duane Haugen, 50, of Stillwater. He faces 20 felony counts of tax evasion, according to the complaint filed in Anoka County District Court.

The charges include five counts each of failing to file income tax returns, failing to pay income taxes, failing to file sales tax returns and failing to remit sales taxes.

According to the complaint, Haugen owned and operated All Auto Service in Spring Lake Park from 1991 to 2006 or early 2007. The business also went by the name R's Imports. During that time he did not pay or file income taxes. He also charged his customers sales tax, but did not forward the taxes to the state, the complaint said.

Haugen allegedly admitted that he "knew this day was going to come and he dreaded it," the Minnesota Department of Revenue said. And he "admitted he knew he should be paying taxes but failed to file state and federal income tax returns since the early 1990s."

TIM HARLOW

Arrest ends chase from St. Paul to Richfield

A man driving a car that he is accused of stealing was arrested early Tuesday after he led police from at least two jurisdictions on a chase, authorities said.

The chase began just after midnight in St. Paul and reached speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour as the suspect drove down W. 7th Street, said Peter Panos, St. Paul police spokesman.

Two pursuing St. Paul squad cars coming from different directions crashed into each other at the intersection of Edgcumbe Road and Davern Street. Two officers had minor injuries but did not require medical treatment, Panos said.

A State Patrol officer near 66th Street and Cedar Avenue S. in Richfield finally stopped the 41-year-old man, who driving a car stolen in Coon Rapids.

The man was arrested and booked into the Ramsey County jail.

TIM HARLOW

Anoka man is sentenced in South Dakota rape

A 19-year-old Minnesota man who raped a student in a dorm room at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion has received a 10-year suspended prison sentence, but will spend some time behind bars.

Zachary L. Larson of Anoka will serve 90 days in state prison. After his release from prison, he will be placed in jail for one year.

Larson, who was attending the university, earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree rape for molesting the 18-year-old woman on Sept. 14.

During the course of the investigation, another rape allegation surfaced.

Larson was subsequently charged with two counts of rape. He agreed to plead guilty to one count if the other was dismissed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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