A St. Paul homeowner says he is stuck with a multi-thousand-dollar repair bill after a runaway minivan plowed through his backyard fence, even though surveillance video appears to show the entire hit-and-run right down to a readable license plate.
Alec Duncan told reporters he was stunned to learn the case had been closed, despite what he describes as clear video evidence and a formal report to police. He says the closure left him feeling like he was on his own financially.
WCCO reviewed surveillance footage that shows a driver pull into a nearby liquor store, walk away without putting the minivan in park and then watch, off camera, as it gathers speed down an alley before smashing into Duncan’s fence. Moments later, a man walks out from the store to the stopped van and drives off. Duncan says the same clip clearly shows the plate number, and that he turned the video over to police. As reported by CBS News Minnesota, he says the lack of follow-up left him frustrated and footing the bill.
Case Closed, Then Suddenly Back On
After Duncan spoke out, the Saint Paul Police Department told CBS News Minnesota that it would reopen the case. The department said in a statement that "the case is under investigation with our Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Unit."
Police also acknowledged in that statement that being a victim can be "difficult and, at times, expensive," and urged anyone with information about the crash to contact the department.
Why the Video Clock Is Ticking
The City of Saint Paul’s public safety technology guidance explains that captured video is typically retained for seven days unless it is formally tagged as evidence. In other words, if crucial footage is not preserved quickly, it may simply cycle out and disappear from the system.
That seven-day window, along with the role of specialized units like the traffic team, helps explain why some cases are initially closed and later reopened when new details or documentation surface. According to Saint Paul Public Safety Technology, video retention policies and the responsibilities of the city’s traffic unit can shape how investigations move forward.
Neighbors Fed Up, Homeowner Wants Answers
Duncan says this is the third time in six years that a vehicle tied to the same block has destroyed his fence. He told reporters the initial decision to close the latest case felt like there was "no responsibility being taken."
He wants clearer communication from police and some assurance that someone will be held accountable, or that the nearby business will change how patrons park so his yard does not keep turning into a crash zone. The decision to reopen the case gives him some hope, but the review by the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Unit could take time before there is any resolution.
