Iowa and Minnesota law enforcement officers are searching for an accused Freeborn County offender who is allegedly continuing to commit crimes.

Weston William Zuehl has five outstanding warrants in Minnesota, including felony receiving stolen property, felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, obstructing the legal process with force or violence and driving after cancellation; and Iowa warrants for felony operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence, eluding police at high speeds in a motor vehicle and narcotics possession, according to a press release from the bail enforcement agency Twin Cities Apprehension Team.

Zuehl is believed to be in the Albert Lea area, according to the release.

The apprehension team is offering a $1,000 reward for any tips that lead to Zuehl’s arrest. Tipsters may remain anonymous. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the agency’s 24-hour tipline at 612-254-7400.

“Our agency has credible information that Zuehl is traveling to and from Iowa and southern Minnesota in stolen vehicles and is participating in burglaries, dealing in stolen property and actively using and/or distributing controlled substances,” said Twin Cities Apprehension Team member Stew Peters. “With multi-state arrest authority, this is a perfect case for our agency to assist in the apprehension efforts of an individual we deem to be a threat to the communities he is frequenting.”

The apprehension team adopted the case Thursday.

Albert Lea Police Department Deputy Chief Darren Hanson encouraged Zuehl to turn himself in, but noted he has shown a consistent unwillingness to do so.

“He’s definitely shown that he’ll do anything he can to try to get away from law enforcement,” Hanson said.

He said Zuehl poses a risk to the community based on his history of fleeing officers in a motor vehicle and advised anyone who sees Zuehl to not confront him, and instead enter a safe space to call law enforcement.

“Anyone that’s on the run is unpredictable, so there is some threat,” Hanson said.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.