Randolph Olson-Vandeusen sentenced to 3 ½ years for theft, reckless endangerment
Randolph Jacob Olson-Vandeusen, 32, Minot, was sentenced on Dec. 15 to five years in prison, with a requirement that he serve 3 ½ years and two years of supervised probation for Class B felony theft of property, with concurrent sentences for Class C felony reckless endangerment and Class C felony fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle and Class A misdemeanor criminal mischief, Class C felony theft, Class C felony possession of methamphetamine, and Class B misdemeanor simple assault.
Judge Doug Mattson also ordered Olson-Vandeusen to pay court costs and restitution and gave him credit for 58 days already served in jail.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, a citizen flagged down Burlington Police Chief Phillip Crabb on Aug. 20 and reported that a light-colored lifted truck and trailer were parked near the bridge on North and South Project Road at Burlington and a man with the truck and trailer was throwing objects into the river. Crabb approached the vehicle and spoke with Olson-Vandeusen, who told him that the truck and trailer belonged to him and he was securing his load. Crabb asked for his license and Olson-Vandeusen then got in the vehicle, locked the door, and drove off with Crabb hanging onto the side of the vehicle. Crabb pushed himself off the vehicle to avoid being hit by the trailer and then, after notifying a dispatcher, pursued Olson-Vandeusen, who drove away at a high rate of speed. Olson-Vandeusen slowed down and jumped from the moving vehicle when it crossed the railroad tracks and then took off running. Crabb jumped into the moving truck and trailer and secured the brake to stop the vehicle and then ran in the direction Olson-Vandeusen had gone. At that point, Crabb wrote that he heard a vehicle start up and Olson-Van Deusen had stolen an ATV and had run into a power pole. The pole was broken and live power lines were laying on a house and camp trailer and evergreen trees. No one was home at the time of the incident when Crabb knocked on the door to warn them. The truck and trailer Olson-Vandeusen had been with were searched and the search turned up two syringes, a plastic pipe and burned tinfoil. Crabb identified Olson-Vandeusen as the perpetrator using an old mugshot. Olson-Vandeusen was also wanted on outstanding warrants.
The 2002 Ford F350 truck and enclosed trailer turned out to be stolen, as did the 2012 800 Polaris Ranger ATV. All of the owners wanted to press charges.