Mendez/Hardy Arrests

At approximately 1:23 am on September 21, 2019 the Worth County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle pursuit southbound from Freeborn County, MN. The pursuit continued to the 214 mile marker on Interstate 35 in Worth County where it was then terminated. Shortly after the pursuit was terminated the fleeing vehicle was found in the ditch at the 217 northbound mile marker. The vehicle was unoccupied. A drone was used to locate two individuals hiding in a bean field near the intersection of Marks Hill Rd and Hickory Avenue. Subsequently Nena Hardy, 22, of Albert Lea was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance and is being held at the Worth County Jail on a $1000 bond. Rodolfo Valdez, 22, of Albert Lea was also taken into custody for an out of state warrant and is being held at the Worth County Jail with no bond.

Those assisting at the scene included the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and the Albert Lea Police Department. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.