On or about February 8, 2026, officers from the Columbia Heights Police Department were on routine patrol in the area of Central Ave. NE and 50th Ave. NE in the City of Columbia Heights, Anoka County, Minnesota, when they observed a vehicle exit a Speedway gas station. Officers learned that the male driver had been acting strangely at the Speedway gas station and followed his vehicle. Officers observed the vehicle change from the left lane without signaling at least 100 feet prior to the turn as the vehicle entered a Holiday gas station.
Officers initiated a stop and approached the vehicle parked at a pump. Officers identified the driver by his Georgia driver’s license as MARCUS JAMES HARRIS [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter “Defendant.” Officers observed Defendant’s eyes to be bloodshot. Officers asked where Defendant was coming from, and he stated he was coming from “his girl’s house.” Officers stated they observed him at Speedway. Defendant then claimed to be coming from Speedway, where he was talking to another girl. Officers asked for Defendant’s insurance, and he stated he needed to get in contact with the registered owner of the vehicle.
Officers ran routine checks on the Defendant, and when they reapproached the vehicle, another officer indicated he observed a bottle of Hennessy in the vehicle. Defendant admitted to drinking Hennessy prior to driving. Defendant produced the 200 mL bottle of Hennessy from the center console area of the vehicle and provided it to officers. The bottle was open and missing approximately 80% of its contents. Defendant admitted to purchasing the bottle earlier that day but denied drinking all of it, stating his last drink was hours ago.
Defendant agreed to complete standardized field sobriety tests. Officers did not observe any clues of impairment during the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and did not proceed with any further tests. Officers informed Defendant they would be searching the vehicle for additional open alcohol containers, and as they looked under the seat, they observed a black handgun under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. As officers approached the Defendant to place him under arrest, Defendant began to flee on foot towards Central Ave.
Officers shouted that Defendant was under arrest, but he continued to flee. Officers deployed their taser to stop the Defendant from fleeing, but it was ineffective. Defendant then slipped, and officers were able to take him into custody. Officers returned to the vehicle and removed the handgun. The handgun had a magazine with 16 rounds of assorted 9mm ammunition inside. Defendant is not permitted to possess firearms due to prior convictions for crimes of violence in Georgia. Defendant was convicted of felony burglary in Georgia on March 27, 2006. See Clayton County Superior Court File No. 06-CR-00003. Defendant was convicted of felony threats of violence on May 6, 2019. See Clayton County Superior Court File No. 18-CR-01566.
