Police found meth and items from burglary

An Albert Lea Level 3 offender charged in connection with a short vehicle chase in April that ended near Halverson Elementary School and netted methamphetamine and items related to a burglary pleaded guilty Friday in Freeborn County District Court.

Jabar Pedro Morarend, 45, pleaded guilty to fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

Court documents state Morarend and Peter Alan Woollard were charged after a sergeant was informed that Morarend was driving a black van with a revoked license. After a pursuit that lasted half a mile, the vehicle parked at 1606 Frank Hall Drive — Morarend’s reported address at the time.

Morarend reportedly downplayed the incident and claimed he could not see the officer’s lights until he pulled into the alley, and his vehicle was described as possibly being used in a burglary in Iowa. A preliminary search of the vehicle reportedly netted numerous burglary tools and pieces of jewelry that could have matched items from the burglary.

Woollard was placed on probation for up to five years late last month after he pleaded guilty to felony fifth-degree meth possession and misdemeanor obstructing the legal process in May.

In a separate file, Morarend pleaded guilty to felony lottery fraud.

Sentencing on the two files are scheduled for Nov. 2.

Morarend is expected to be placed on probation, said Freeborn County Attorney David Walker.

Morarend was charged with a felony predatory offender registration violation after he was arrested in July in St. Paul, but that count is expected to be dismissed at sentencing.