Fergus Falls Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase in Stolen Vehicle

A Fergus Falls man is behind bars after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Twin Cities dealership and leading police on a high-speed chase last week.
42-year-old Rafael Buenfil was arrested Friday, March 28, after a Fergus Falls police officer spotted a white Lexus with temporary dealer plates speeding down South Cascade Street. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver fled—accelerating to over 100 miles per hour along Highway 210, then turning onto Pebble Lake Road and disappearing from view.
Officers later found the vehicle abandoned at the Big Chief Truck Stop, and Buenfil was located at the nearby gas station. Police say he had been seen in the vehicle shortly before the pursuit. A search of the vehicle turned up a baggie containing 14.8 grams of methamphetamine.
Authorities later confirmed with a dealership in Richfield that Buenfil had been on a test drive on March 26, but never returned the vehicle or keys. The dealership reported the car stolen after learning it was involved in the Fergus Falls incident.
Buenfil now faces several felony charges, including:
• Fleeing Law Enforcement in a Motor Vehicle
• 3rd Degree Controlled Substance Possession
• Failure to Register as a Predatory Offender
Court documents indicate Buenfil has a history of drug-related offenses and previous convictions for fleeing law enforcement. He remains in custody at the Otter Tail County Jail.