Fight, chase in Moorhead draws charges

Police say two Moorhead men drinking in a garage Sunday night got in a fight, leaving one man hospitalized and the other charged with felonies of assault and fleeing police.

The fight was reported at 8:39 p.m. at 307 Dale Ave., where the victim’s wife found her husband bloodied on the garage floor with broken beer bottles around him, Lt. Tory Jacobson said.

The victim, 32-year-old Brandon Eric Olson, and suspect, William John Morris Jr., 25, of Moorhead, were drinking in the garage when they started fighting, Jacobson said.

A complaint filed in Clay County District Court on Monday alleges that Morris told police he was angered when Olson called him a snitch. Court records claim Morris admitted to police he punched Olson in the head several times and had blood on his shoe.

Morris allegedly fled the scene, and a description of his car was broadcast over police radio. An officer spotted the car and tried to stop it, but the car accelerated and performed evasive maneuvers, Jacobson said.

At one point, the driver lost control of the car, and it glanced off a boulevard tree before continuing at a high rate of speed on Eighth Street South, Jacobson said. The officer decided to end the pursuit around 10:40 p.m. because of the risk to public safety.

Shortly before midnight, police found Morris and his car at his residence at 2318 10th St. S. Morris allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended, and his car was impounded. Police allege in court records they found $400 in cash tucked into the fender of the vehicle when it was searched.

Olson was taken by ambulance to Sanford Health in Fargo with a deep head laceration and a possible broken jaw, Jacobson said. Police said the injuries weren’t considered life-threatening.

Morris told officers he was glad Olson was injured, according to the complaint filed Monday.

In an initial appearance in court Monday, bail was set at $15,000. In addition to third-degree assault and fleeing a peace officer, both felonies, Morris is charged with a misdemeanor, driving while intoxicated.

Readers can reach Forum reporters Mike Nowatzki at (701) 242-5528 and

Dave Roepke at (701) 241-5535

Tags: crime and courts, drunken behavior, clay county, news, crimes, assaults, moorhead, fccnetwork