COOPERSTOWN - Griggs County's chief deputy sheriff and the director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association led law officers on an 11-mile chase after their car was clocked at close to 100 mph, authorities say.

The two men fled after their car ended up in a field and did not report the incident for another 12 hours, authorities say.

Highway Patrol Capt. James Nygaard said both Bob Hook, the chief deputy, and Grain Growers director Dan Wogsland acknowledged they had been drinking.

Hook apologized on Friday, saying, "I don't have an excuse to justify what I did."

"Red lights came on. I got scared and panicked, considering my job and everything," Hook said. "I made a horrible, horrible decision I'm going to have to live with the rest of my life."

Hook said he was driving Wogsland's car. Wogsland, who has been the Grain Growers' director since June 2004, is a former longtime state senator and Democratic floor leader.

Wogsland was hired after his predecessor, Lance Hagen, admitted stealing almost $113,000 from the Grain Growers and the U.S. Durum Growers Association. Hagen made restitution, pleaded guilty to two felonies and was sentenced to probation.

Griggs County Sheriff Paul Hendrickson said Hook, who has been chief deputy for seven years, was demoted and put on probation because of the incident. The Griggs County state's attorney is exploring whether to file charges.

The chase began south of Hannaford on State Highway 1 at about 9:30 p.m. Monday, the Fourth of July holiday.

It went over county and township roads before Hook drove into a field. The two men then allegedly abandoned the car and fled.

Wogsland said he did not expect charges to be filed against him because he got caught up in Hook's mistake and did nothing wrong.

Wogsland declined to discuss details of the incident, but said neither he nor Hook was drunk.

"He made a bad decision," Wogsland said. "I can't answer for that. I was just an innocent bystander in this thing."

Nygaard said drunken driving charges will not be filed against Hook because of the time that elapsed between the end of the chase and officers' next contact with the two men.

"We have no physical evidence," he said.

However, Nygaard said fleeing charges are possible next week. Authorities were meeting with the state's attorney, he said.

Hendrickson said the Griggs County Commission put Hook on one week of unpaid leave, reduced his rank from chief deputy to deputy and put him on a year of probation with a salary reduction of about 4 percent.

Hook was on call the night of the Fourth of July, and other officers actually tried contacting him to assist in the chase, Hendrickson said.

"I'm very disappointed and very angered by that kind of choice," the sheriff said of Hook's alleged behavior. "It's very nontypical of Deputy Hook to make those kind of personal life choices."

However, he said Hook "dealt with it professionally."

Grain Growers President Terry Wanzek said he was shocked and disappointed with Wogsland. Wanzek declined further comment Friday until he could meet with Grain Growers board members.

Wogsland was arrested for drunken driving and speeding in May 1994, when he was Senate majority leader. He was stopped in southern Griggs County for going 103 mph on his motorcycle. He later pleaded guilty and apologized.

Hook said he intended to remain in law enforcement "if the public will accept that, and if not, I will have to pursue other interests."

"At this point in time, I hope to regain the trust of the citizens of Griggs County, because I've worked hard and diligently to do my best," he said.