Man’s driver’s license has been revoked since 2014

A Freeborn man who allegedly initiated a chase that reached speeds of 85 mph was charged Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Mark Edward Gruben, 56, is charged with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, gross misdemeanor intent to escape motor vehicle tax, a misdemeanor motor vehicle registration violation, misdemeanor driving after revocation and petty misdemeanor speeding.

Court documents state Gruben was charged after a Minnesota state trooper at a crossover of Interstate 90 near Minnesota Highway 13 saw a green Chrysler convertible pass his location heading east Tuesday morning. 

The vehicle reportedly crossed over right fog lines multiple times. The trooper tried to make a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of Bridge Avenue and I-90, court documents state, but the vehicle did not stop.

Gruben then allegedly increased his speed to 85 mph, motioned to the trooper that he was going to pull over, but reportedly continued at a high rate of speed.

Court documents state the vehicle exited I-90 to enter Interstate 35, heading south, before exiting the interstate, entering U.S. HIghway 65 and traveling 70 to 75 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The chase continued, and the vehicle reportedly turned into the driveway of a business on the east side of Albert Lea.

Gruben reportedly said he did not stop for the trooper because he was on his way to work and wanted to stop at a place off the highway where it was safer.

Gruben’s license has been revoked since 2014, court documents state. He reportedly has at least four cases of failing to appear or pay fines on his driving record.

Gruben pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judge Ross Leuning set conditional bail at $2,000. A settlement conference is scheduled for Nov. 9, and a jury trial is expected to start Jan. 23, if the case has not been settled by then.