ESCANABA — A Rapid River man was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on drug charges and leading police on a high-speed chase.

Dustin Richard Giesel, 34, of Rapid River was sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 10 years to 20 years following the entry of a guilty plea to the following: Delivery/Manufacture Methamphetamine, Police Officer – Flee, 3rd Degree, 4 counts of Police Officer – Assaulting/Resisting/Obstructing, and Operating While Intoxicated. Giesel was sentenced as a Fourth Habitual Offender.

On September 30, 2020, officers from Escanaba Department of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Giesel in the city of Escanaba. After identifying Giesel and passenger, the officers were returning to their patrol vehicle when Giesel fled the traffic stop, nearly running over the feet of the officers. A chase ensued, with Giesel driving through the city of Escanaba, reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. Giesel crashed through a fence in the Northside Trailer Park and ended up on train tracks. The vehicle eventually became stuck on the tracks, and Giesel fled on foot. Officers from Escanaba Public Safety and @deltacountysheriff pursued Giesel, locating him in some brush. Giesel resisted being arrested by multiple officers, resulting in the K9 being utilized and a taser being deployed. Officers eventually restrained Giesel, but he refused to walk out of the brush under his own power, requiring officers to carry him out of the area. A subsequent search of the vehicle involved located a plastic container with multiple baggies of white powdery substance. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine and a finger print belonging to Giesel was located on the plastic container.

Escanaba Public Safety was assisted in their investigation by Delta County Sheriff’s Office, MI, Michigan State Police, Delta County Central Dispatch, and Rampart EMS in their investigation.