Police reached speeds of 100 mph while attempting to pull over a Hudson man heading north out of Ellsworth Sept. 28.

Chad C. Ridges, 37, posted a $5,000 signature bond Sept. 30 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony vehicle operator flee/elude officer, resisting or obstructing an officer, operate firearm while intoxicated, carry concealed weapon and possess drug paraphernalia charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.

According to the complaint:

At 11:13 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, an Ellsworth police officer observed a black BMW sedan speeding near Maple and Ray streets. The vehicle continued to increase its speed as police began following it. The officer, who activated his emergency lights to perform a traffic stop, increased his speed to nearly 100 mph as they continued northbound on Maple. The vehicle did not stop or slow down.

As the vehicle continued northbound, it crossed the centerline near 610^th Avenue. It eventually slowed and stopped near N6240 Highway 65. The vehicle had a lone occupant, later identified as Ridges. He complied with the request to turn off his vehicle, but he refused to step out of the car as instructed or to give the officer his keys. He smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot, glassy eyes.

While waiting for other units to arrive, the officer explained the reason for the stop. Ridges told the officer he was just “moving along with traffic,” even though there were not other vehicles in the vicinity. Ridges was slurring his words and wore a wristband commonly provided to indicate entry into an event. He denied drinking any alcohol and continued to refuse commands to step out of the car.

At this point, officers escorted him out of the vehicle and handcuffed him. He refused to perform field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer, but police had probable cause to arrest him for OWI. Ridges kept calling the officer a “horrible person.”

During a vehicle search, police located a grinder in the center console, a crushed beer can under the passenger seat surrounded by spilled liquid, a prescription pill bottle containing four types of pills, and a Sig Sauer P320 9mm with loaded magazine in the glovebox. Dispatch confirmed Ridges had been convicted of a felony in Virginia in 2005; therefore, he could not be in possession of a gun.

After obtaining a search warrant, police transported Ridges to River Falls Area Hospital for a blood draw. He was then turned over to Pierce County Jail staff without incident.

Ridges is set to appear in court at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 31 for a status conference.