Man arrested after collision with pedestrian in Fargo, flees from police into Sheyenne River | The Mighty 790 KFGO

FARGO/WEST FARGO (KFGO) – A Mapleton man with a long criminal history is back in jail after police say he intentionally hit a person with his car and fled from officers into the Sheyenne River in West Fargo.

Just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Fargo police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a car. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers believe the crash was intentional. They identified the suspect as Nicholas Bruesch, 37, and issued a temporary arrest warrant for him. Fargo police say Bruesch and the victim know each other.

Bruesch’s abandoned vehicle near South Elementary in West Fargo (Joe Leier/KFGO News)

West Fargo police found Bruesch and his vehicle near Cargill on Center Street around 3:30 p.m. and attempted to pull him over. Bruesch fled, reaching speeds of over 50 mph in a 25 mph zone. He abandoned his vehicle in an alley near South Elementary and walked away on foot.

Witnesses told KFGO that Bruesch ran into the Sheyenne River when officers attempted to stop him again at the intersection of Sheyenne Street and 7th Ave S. West Fargo Police officers and a sniffer dog were seen searching backyards along the river and in Elmwood Park.

Bruesch was arrested for reckless endangerment.

Bruesch has a long criminal history dating back to an assault case in 2004. In 2010, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for stabbing and nearly killing a man in Mapleton. In September, Bruesch was arrested after breaking into an auto salvage yard in Fargo. He was most recently charged with fleeing from an officer in Cass County on May 2.