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CITY, ND – A Fessenden man faces a number of charges after he drove his pickup through a fence, a pile of dirt and attempted to flee from police using a 6 year-old girl as a shield while police officers attempted to arrest the man just before noon on Saturday, May 9 in Valley City.

Police Chief Fred Thompson said 28 year-old Carson Brent Messmer was using the girl as a shield as a police officer was pointing a taser at Messmer. A few minutes later the suspect released the girl and he was taken into custody.

Thompson said at one point Messmer attempted to steal a motor vehicle after his pickup was disabled from the crash. But the vehicle’s owner challenged Messmer who then fled on foot with the girl.

The suspect faces several drug related charges. Additional charges against Messmer may be pending against him in this case.

The 6 year-old girl was placed into the care of Barnes County Social Services after she was released from the hospital on Saturday, May 9.