By: Alex Evans
EVELETH, Minn. – A domestic violence suspect driving from Cambridge to Ely, hit a responding deputy’s car “head-on” ending the pursuit, charges allege.
A man is charged with hitting a St. Louis County Deputy’s vehicle “head-on” during a pursuit on Sunday that ended on Highway 53 near Eveleth, according to a criminal complaint. Erik Michael Rust, 38, also faces charges for a domestic assault incident that same day, which is alleged to have violated a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO) in Isanti County.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said that at 11:51 a.m., a KOPS (Keeping Our Police Safe) alert notified them that Rust was headed from Cambridge to Ely, reportedly armed with a crossbow, and making threats to crash his car. According to the alert, “ there was currently probable cause to arrest him for a domestic assault/DANCO Violation incident in Isanti County.”
Sheriff Deputies started to follow Rust when he neared Cotton, going northbound on Highway 53. Deputies said that Rust slowed down at first, but fled once they turned on their lights at speeds in “excess of 100mph.”
Rust allegedly continued into a closed construction zone on Highway 53 near Eveleth. The deputies said that Rust was forced to turn around after he came to a section where the highway was removed. When Rust faced his car towards the deputies, he drove “head-on” and struck one deputy’s vehicle. The other deputies pinned his car on all sides and ordered Rust out of his vehicle.
Rust was arrested and medically cleared at Essentia Hospital in Virginia before being booked into the county jail. According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, a deputy received minor injuries as a result of the collision, and there was damage to two department vehicles.
Deputies said that Rust evaded stop sticks twice during the pursuit, and that they were unable to attempt a PIT maneuver on his vehicle.
In a “Mirandized” interview with deputies, Rust claimed that he was released earlier that day from the Isanti County Jail and went to his girlfriend’s home to get his vehicle and phone. The complaint alleges that Rust did not attempt to get a law enforcement escort to accompany him, despite a DANCO preventing contact with his girlfriend.
Rust claimed he did not flee from deputies when they attempted to pull him over, but “spaced out” and kept driving to “gather his thoughts.”
The Twin Ports Report 