Meeker County authorities are actively searching for 52-year-old Steven Oachs, a Watertown resident who remains at large after evading law enforcement on Sunday afternoon. The incident began just after 4:00 p.m. when a Meeker County Sheriff's deputy initiated a traffic stop in the 100 block of 3rd Street South in Dassel. During the stop, Oachs provided the deputy with a false name and subsequently fled on foot into an adjacent cornfield. According to the sheriff's office, Oachs emerged from the cornfield and was picked up by an accomplice. A subsequent traffic stop involving the fugitive led Oachs to flee on foot a second time, entering another cornfield to evade capture. In response to the ongoing manhunt, deputies established a perimeter with assistance from the Wright County Sheriff's Office and the Litchfield Police Department. A drone was deployed to assist with the search, and the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter was called in to provide aerial support. Oachs is wanted on multiple drug-related warrants. As of the latest report, the suspect has not been located. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Oachs's whereabouts to contact the Meeker County Sheriff's Office immediately. The search efforts continue as of October 5, 2026.