Fugitive Captured in April 1 Pursuit through Multiple Counties

On April 2, 2025, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the U.S. Marshalls advising of an active felony warrant for Tyler Pierce (39 years old) out of Iowa.  Later that morning around 10 a.m., the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Deputies located Mr. Pierce driving a silver Honda Accord in the city of Spring Grove.  

While conducting a felony traffic stop, Mr. Pierce rammed into one of the squad cars and drove through a yard to evade law enforcement.  At that time a pursuit ensued.

Law Enforcement pursued Mr. Pierce from Spring Grove for approximately 72 miles going from Houston County, Minn., into Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties, Iowa, back into Houston County, then ending in Fillmore County, Minn.  During the pursuit Caledonia Police Department, Allamakee County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, and Preston Police Department assisted in the pursuit.  

At times, Mr. Pierce was attempting to evade law enforcement by driving over 100 mph in the rural areas.  During the pursuit law enforcement attempted to use stop sticks three times, which slowly deflated two of the tires. 

In the city of Preston on State Highway 52 (Fillmore County, Minn.), Mr. Pierce’s attempted to pass a semi-truck and trailer on the shoulder of the road.  However, his car sideswiped the semi and a guardrail on both sides of the road.  A short distance later the car became undrivable and came to a stop.  Prior to Mr. Pierce attempting to escape out the driver’s side window, law enforcement was able to take Mr. Pierce into custody. 

Mr. Pierce was transported the St. Marys Hospital for evaluation of minor injuries due to the collisions.  Later that afternoon, Mr. Pierce was medically cleared and transported to the Houston County Jail.

The Minnesota State Patrol will be handling the crash investigations that happened in Minnesota during the pursuit.