Man dead after chase through two counties

A Cannon Falls man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after authorities say he led law enforcement on a chase after a traffic stop in West Concord.
Adam Michael Lawrence, 48, has been identified as the driver of an SUV that came up behind the squad of the West Concord officer about 7:40 p.m. Sunday, then swerved toward him, just missing the side of the squad.
The SUV continued into the parking lot of the Casey’s gas station in town, made a U-turn and “aggressively drove toward the squad car” that had started following him, according to Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose.
Lawrence headed north on U.S. Highway 56; the officer — identified as David Curtis Myrom, 40, of Dodge Center — initiated a traffic stop just north of the Dollar General store on the edge of town.
Rose said the SUV stopped briefly in the road, then reversed, rammed the squad car’s front end and continued north on U.S. 56.
The impact deployed the squad’s airbags, causing minor injuries to Myrom. He was taken to a hospital in Owatonna, where he was treated and released.
A witness to the traffic stop and impact followed Lawrence, who left the highway after about two miles, turning west onto Dodge County Road 11, then north onto 50th Avenue.
Dodge County deputies were able to catch up with the SUV, which continued north, allegedly running stop signs at three controlled intersections, before heading west again on County 30 Boulevard, northeast of Kenyon in Goodhue County.
The pursuing officers expected Lawrence to pick up County 14 Boulevard heading north, and requested stop sticks.
Lawrence did turn onto County 14 Boulevard, which leads into the city of Cannon Falls; speeds eventually reached 95 mph, according to scanner reports, but typically remained at about 70 mph.
A Rice County deputy was able to deploy stop sticks near the intersection of County 14 and Sogn Valley Trail; Lawrence’s vehicle struck them as he continued northbound.
He hit the sticks at 8:08 p.m.; moments later, the front driver’s side wheel began to spark, and was lost a minute later.
A pursuing officer saw him reaching to the passenger side of the SUV.
At 8:12 p.m., one of the officers indicated the vehicle sounded like it was having transmission issues, barely making it up a hill as it continued north toward the roundabouts on County 24 Boulevard, just west of the interchange with U.S. Highway 52 in Cannon Falls.
As they followed, officers learned Lawrence was “known to have firearms,” per law enforcement in Goodhue County, where he had an active warrant.
As Lawrence entered the first roundabout and headed east on County 24, a Dodge County deputy was able to successfully deploy stop sticks a second time in an attempt to further disable the SUV.
Lawrence was seen yelling out the window at 8:14 p.m., but officers couldn’t understand what he was saying.
A minute later, he was driving on the rims of all four tires; he followed the second roundabout onto the frontage road toward Mayo Clinic Health System-Cannon Falls.
Lawrence drove into the parking lot and stopped at the curb near the main doors at 8:17 p.m.; the Emergency Department was advised and went into lockdown.
Dodge County deputies attempted to get the suspect to exit the vehicle; two minutes later, Lawrence claimed he had a gun to his head — and 15 seconds later, officers reported hearing shots fired, and saw Lawrence slump over.
Law enforcement waited for more safety measures to arrive before approaching the SUV, and also called for EMS and a medical helicopter.
Lawrence was pronounced dead at 8:36 p.m. A handgun was reportedly found in his lap.
No officers were injured, and no officers fired shots, Rose said.
The Cannon Falls Police Department requested the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) assist their agency with the suicide investigation. BCA Agents and evidence technicians responded to take over the suicide investigation.
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash in West Concord between the suspect and West Concord Officer.
Deputies from Rice County and Goodhue County assisted, along with Minnesota State Patrol and Cannon Falls Police.
MCHS-Cannon Falls reopened about 40 minutes after the incident began.