An Albert Lea man who reportedly led officers on a vehicle chase in a stolen car last month pleaded not guilty Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Shawn Michael Miller, 30, is charged with felony receiving stolen property, felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, gross misdemeanor fifth-degree controlled substance possession, misdemeanor driving after revocation and petty misdemeanor possessing drug paraphernalia.

Court documents state Miller was charged after Albert Lea police officers were notified Jan. 26 that a Chevy pickup was being followed by private citizens who believed the vehicle might have been stolen.

After the chase, the vehicle stopped south of the intersection of Sunset and Cedar avenues.

An officer reportedly found a plastic baggie in Miller’s pocket recognized as possible drug paraphernalia, along with a marijuana pipe with burnt residue.

A glass pipe with white residue in Miller’s back pocket tested positive for methamphetamine, and a marijuana grinder was found in Miller’s truck.

Court documents state the vehicle was reported stolen in December from a city lot behind an Albert Lea bar.

Miller allegedly said he bought the vehicle two weeks prior to the chase from another person and admitted he fled officers because he did not have a valid driver’s license and was violating probation by possessing the pipe. 

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23. As of Friday afternoon, Miller was in custody.