Garvin man apprehended after taking two vehicles; leading officers on 50-plus mile pursuit

Julie Buntjer, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·2 min read

Mar. 13—SLAYTON — A Garvin man who fled from law enforcement last week in Cottonwood County is now in custody following his apprehension Wednesday morning by the Murray County Sheriff's Office.

According to a press release issued by Murray County Sheriff Heath Landsman, Sean Eric VanMeveren was taken into custody without incident northwest of Dovray after leading officers on a more than 50-mile police chase through Murray and Cottonwood counties.

"As Murray County deputies were setting up a perimeter to attempt to make an arrest, VanMeveren got into his vehicle and began driving toward two Murray County deputies," Landsman said in the press release. "Once VanMeveren saw the deputies, he accelerated his vehicle around the waiting deputies (who) were able to identify VanMeveren as the driver."

The deputies began a pursuit, which continued for approximately six miles before VanMeveren reportedly entered a rural Murray County farmsite, exited the vehicle he was driving and took a vehicle from the farmsite.

VanMeveren then reportedly led the Murray County deputies and assisting agencies on a 40- to 45-mile long pursuit in rural Murray and Cottonwood counties before pulling into a rural Westbrook site and taking a vehicle from that location.

"VanMeveren led pursuing officers into the city of Westbrook for a short time, which prompted a notification to the Westbrook school," Landsman stated in the press release. "The Superintendent, Loy Woelber, promptly put the school on a brief lockdown."

Landsman reported that the pursuit of VanMeveren came to an end northwest of Dovray.

"During the pursuit, VanMeveren made at least five attempts to ram pursuing officers/deputies' vehicles," Landsman said. "VanMeveren was clearly operating these stolen vehicles without any regard for the safety of the public or officers/deputies involved in the pursuit."

VanMeveren is

wanted in connection to

vehicle theft, property theft and pursuits in Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood, Jackson and Blue Earth counties in Minnesota, as well as Emmet County, Iowa. He is now held pending his first court appearance, and Landsman said there is no ongoing risk to the public at this time.

The Murray County Sheriff's Office was assisted Wednesday by the Slayton Police Department, Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office, Pipestone County Sheriff's Office, Westbrook Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Westbrook Area Ambulance.