Man allegedly led police on chase after leaving woman, daughter behind

GRAFTON, N.D. — A Warroad, Minn., man is accused of forcing his girlfriend and her young daughter to stand outside in the cold near Grafton, N.D., before leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase.

Scott Allen Boothman, 44, is in jail facing several charges, including three felonies, for the Sunday incident.

“When you involve speeds like that in a vehicle, and you involve people being told to get out of the car in that cold, it shows a tremendous disregard for anyone except the person giving the orders, and that’s sad,” said Walsh County Sheriff Lauren Wild.

Boothman faces charges of reckless endangerment, terrorizing and interference with an emergency call. Wild said Boothman was also driving under the influence.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the three were on their way from Warroad to Grand Forks. His girlfriend said he threatened to kill her during the drive.

While on Interstate 29, Boothman allegedly forced the woman and her daughter to stand outside at an exit just south of Grafton. The wind chill that night was between 25 and 30 degrees below zero.

The woman called 911, but she says Boothman tackled her, causing her to roll in the ditch.

Everyone got back in the car and left.

The sheriff’s deputy who responded did not find them at the exit, but caught up with them.

Boothman then allegedly took off at speeds reaching 100 mph for about a mile before pulling over. The woman and her daughter ran frantically from the car, and Boothman was arrested.

Wild said the woman had red marks around her neck when the deputy found her, but she and her daughter were not injured in the cold.

Boothman is in the Walsh County jail on a $50,000 bail.

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