Police: Driver of Stolen Car Slams Into Brooklyn Park Squad Vehicle
Brooklyn Park Incident Was Among Two Overnight Stolen Vehicle Cases
Brooklyn Park police arrested three people early Tuesday morning linked to a pair of vehicle thefts.
In one of the cases, police took in a report at about 1:30 a.m. of someone stealing a silver Hyundai Elantra at the Willows Apartments. Police say responding officers then spotted the vehicle pulling into the Eden Park Apartments about a half mile away.
According to police, the driver stopped the car, got out and ran off. Police say he was able to escape, but not before dropping a handgun. During the search for the driver, a passenger in the Elantra, who police had not seen, hopped into the driver’s seat and attempted to pull away, police said. However, police say other responding officers got that female suspect to stop and arrested her without further incident.
Police: Driver of Stolen Car Slams Into Brooklyn Park Squad Vehicle
As police set up a perimeter to search for the driver who ran off, a Crystal police officer spotted another vehicle driving at a high rate of speed. It turns out that vehicle, a Ford Fusion, was stolen too.
Both Crystal and Brooklyn Park police gave pursuit of the Ford Fusion. At one point, the vehicle stopped and several individuals got out and ran off in multiple directions, police said. Police say the driver continued to flee through the Lakeland Park neighborhood, eventually winding up at the park.
As officers converged on the vehicle, police say the driver intentionally rammed into one of the Brooklyn Park police vehicles with two officers inside. The officers were not seriously hurt.
“They are doing fine, obviously shaken up, uninjured for the most part,” said Brooklyn Park police spokesperson Elliot Faust.
Brooklyn Park police used a PIT maneuver to get the vehicle to stop and arrest the suspect, who turned out to be a male juvenile. The police vehicle used to stop the suspect was heavily damaged.
“The suspect vehicle actually ended up on the hood of the squad car,” said Faust.
One adult and two juveniles were arrested between the two incidents. Charges in both cases are pending. Faust said one of the suspects had an outstanding warrant.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police were still looking for the man who ran off from the stolen Hyundai Elantra.
Also See: Brooklyn Park Police: 20 Vehicle Thefts in Past 20 Days Were Hyundai Models
