Plymouth Man Charged with DWI, Fleeing Police at 80 MPH

A Plymouth man whom authorities say had a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit is charged with leading police on a chase through Crystal that reached speeds of 80 mph.

Mark Alan Lange, 40, is charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He is also charged with third-degree DWI, a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Crystal Police Detective Robert Hodge, officers on patrol spotted Lange driving 69 mph in a 55 mph zone at about 1:45 a.m. Aug. 19, headed west on Interstate 394 and approaching Highway 100.

Lange slowed down to 60 mph and continued to drive with his turn signal activated, according to the complaint. However, when police began pursuing him, he accelerated to 80 mph and refused to stop, the complaint says.

Police followed Lange onto the Louisiana Avenue exit, and he eventually pulled over at the top of the ramp and stopped. When police approached Lange’s car, they smelled alcohol on his breath and noted that his eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred, according to the complaint.

Lange performed “poorly” on field sobriety tests and registered a blood-alcohol content of .249 percent on a preliminary breath test, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent, according to the complaint.

A subsequent breath test an hour later showed Lange’s blood-alcohol content at .24 percent, the complaint charges.

Lange has been released from custody on a $25,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Sept. 19 in Hennepin County District Court.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter