A stolen-vehicle chase cut across a busy South St. Paul interchange on Sunday and ended in a tangle of tire tracks and flashing lights when the fleeing car slid off the cloverleaf ramp connecting westbound Interstate 494 to southbound Highway 52. Two people were taken into custody after the crash, and one person remains at large, according to police. The investigation is active, and the large law enforcement response briefly disrupted residents in the area.
How the chase unfolded
Officers first spotted a reportedly stolen vehicle parked at gas pumps on Concord Street near Interstate 494, then moved in to take the occupants into custody. Instead, the driver hit the gas, sped onto I-494 westbound, jumped a median and continued onto the ramp to Highway 52.
After roughly a mile of pursuit, the vehicle lost control on the ramp and slid into the grassy median. Three people bailed out and ran from the crash scene on foot. Two were caught and booked into the Dakota County jail, while a third remained on the loose, according to FOX 9.
In a statement to reporters, the South St. Paul Police Department said the multi-agency response "helped bring two people into custody quickly and safely." K-9 teams from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and Woodbury Police assisted in the search, while officers from Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul and the Minnesota State Patrol also joined the effort. Detectives are working to identify everyone involved, and the department said the case will be sent to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for possible charges as investigators continue to gather evidence, according to FOX 9.
Why this matters locally
Auto theft and risky pursuits have been a stubborn public safety headache across the Twin Cities, prompting grant-funded prevention efforts and coordinated enforcement between agencies. The Minnesota Department of Commerce runs an Auto Theft Prevention toolkit and funding programs that help local departments respond when stolen vehicles and related crimes spike. High-profile incidents tied to stolen cars, including shootings and crashes in the metro, have highlighted the dangers for bystanders and first responders. For state resources, see Minnesota Commerce, and for broader context, reporting such as the Star Tribune.
What happens next
Detectives say they will keep interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage and following up on tips as they build the case. Anyone with information or video is asked to call the South St. Paul Police Department's non-emergency line at 651-413-8300 or use the department's online contact page, listed on the South St. Paul Police website.
Police say the investigation remains active and they thanked partnering agencies for their quick response. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers Minnesota.
