Chaska man arrested for church vandalism, car theft near Montevideo Sunday evening

A man from Chaska was arrested Sunday evening for vandalizing a Madison church and stealing a car.

At about 5:15 p.m., the Lac Qui Parle County Sheriff’s department received a call about an impaired man who appeared to be drunk, and had broken a window in Faith Lutheran Church in Madison. A short time later, the department received a call about a vehicle that had been stolen from the same area.

A Dawson police officer noted the vehicle on Highway 212 and stopped the suspect car. However, after stopping, the suspect headed off eastbound. At time, the pursuit exceeded 100 mph. Montevideo police officers popped two tires using spike strips. The suspect, Taylor Haukedahl, age 25, was apprehended a short time later without incident.

Haukedahl is currently in the Chippewa County Jail on charges of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, 2nd Degree Assault, and Fleeing Police in a Motor Vehicle.

Assisting on the scene were the Dawson Police Department, Lac Qui Parle Sheriff’s Office, Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and Montevideo Police Department.