A Canton man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested in Rochester after leading law enforcement on a pursuit in Wisconsin and later being tied to the theft of a municipal vehicle.
Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Nathan Randal Gossman. He was taken into custody on August 18 and is being held in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson confirmed the arrest. Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said his office and the Viroqua Police Department will seek charges through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher.
The Viroqua Police Department reported that the incident began on Friday, August 15, when officers were called to a parking lot in the city for a male party with a warrant. As officers arrived, the suspect and a passenger entered a vehicle and began to drive away, nearly striking an officer. The passenger, identified as 37-year-old Jesse Devlaeminck of Rochester, fled on foot but was arrested on multiple warrants following a short search. The driver, identified as Gossman, led police on a high-speed pursuit that ended near Retreat when his vehicle left the roadway. Gossman fled on foot.
Vernon County deputies, Viroqua Police, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Crawford County deputies, Vernon County Emergency Management, Wheatland Fire, First Responders, Tri-State Ambulance, the La Farge Drone Team, and Legacy Towing were all involved in the search. Despite several hours of effort, Gossman was not located.
The following morning, August 16, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office reported that a 2017 Ram 5500 dump truck belonging to the Town of Wheatland had been stolen. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle in De Soto at 12:39 a.m. The truck, with municipal plates, was later recovered in Rochester.
On Monday, August 18, Sheriff Torgerson announced that Gossman had been arrested in Rochester. He is awaiting extradition to Wisconsin.
Minnesota court records show that Gossman has faced numerous felony-level charges across several counties dating back to 2004. These include the following convictions:
2004, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony theft after multiple burglary filings. He was also convicted of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault in a separate case.
2005, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
2008, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony theft of a motor vehicle. He also faced DWI charges, which were dismissed.
2009, Houston County – Convicted of felony terroristic threats. Other charges, including burglary and obstruction, were dismissed.
2010, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony violation of a no contact order. Additional domestic abuse charges were dismissed in the same case.
2010, Houston County – Convicted of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
2010, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony second-degree burglary and gross misdemeanor domestic assault.
2015, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony second-degree burglary. In a separate case, he was also convicted of felony harassment for violating restraining orders.
2018, Fillmore County – Convicted of felony second-degree burglary. In another 2018 case, he was convicted of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
2020, Goodhue County – Convicted of felony fifth-degree drug possession.
2021, Goodhue County – Convicted of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Other charges, including reckless driving and license violations, were dismissed.
2022, Olmsted County – Convicted of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
2022, Olmsted County – Convicted of felony fifth-degree drug possession.
2023, Mower County – Convicted of felony check forgery.
Other cases over the years included burglary charges in Fillmore County in 2018, with one count of second-degree burglary resulting in conviction and first- and third-degree burglary charges dismissed. In Goodhue County, Gossman was charged in 2021 with motor vehicle theft, reckless driving, and traffic control violations. Those counts were dismissed while he was convicted of fleeing.
Earlier records also show convictions for harassment-related felonies in 2015 in Fillmore County, with repeat violations of restraining orders tied to domestic violence cases. Court records reflect additional dismissed charges across multiple counties, including first-degree burglary, assault, and multiple counts of theft.
Altogether, the Minnesota court system shows more than two dozen felony filings against Gossman between 2004 and 2023, with convictions spread across Fillmore, Houston, Goodhue, Olmsted and Mower counties.
Following his arrest in Rochester, Vernon County authorities confirmed that extradition proceedings are underway. The investigations remain active and additional charges may be filed.
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