On December 12, 2025 at 6:20 P.M. Carver County Deputies received a mental health call from an address on Airport Road in Waconia, Carver County. The reporting party indicated her boyfriend Jason Matthew Wheeler (5-17-1876), hereinafter Defendant, was trying to get a gun and kill himself. J. L. Was able to keep Defendant from retrieving a firearm. J. L. Reported Defendant punched her in the hand and shoved her multiple times and that Defendant had been drinking. J. L. Stated Defendant left on foot with his vehicle keys and was likely headed to the underground parking garage.
Deputies arrived at the parking garage and observed a light Jeep quickly accelerating from the parking garage. The Deputies observed a single male occupant in the driver seat matching the description of Defendant. The Deputy activated overhead emergency lights and attempted to block the exit. The vehicle continued toward the patrol and drove around the squad, partially onto a snow berm, and fled. The Deputy attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle was driving without headlights and accelerating at high rates of speed.
The vehicle also crossed a center white line and continued down the center of both lanes going northeast on Airport Road. The vehicle had no taillights illuminated and was traveling at speeds estimated at 89 mph in heavy traffic. Defendant continued to flee and Deputies were forced to use a driver side pit maneuver to stop the vehicle. Deputies were successful. A Deputy exited her vehicle with a firearm advising Defendant to put his hands up. Defendant was observed reaching toward the center console and not complying with commands.
Defendant raised a middle finger at one deputy. Defendant retrieved what appeared to be a hunting knife. Defendant took the knife and cut his left wrist and then right wrist while being instructed to drop the knife several times. Defendant exited the vehicle wielding the knife. Defendant was stumbling and struggling to maintain balance. Defendant was wielding the knife, pointing it and non-compliant with repeated verbal commands to drop the knife. Defendant continued to close the distance between himself and Deputy Gutknecht.
Deputy Gutnkecht was in fear for her life because Defendant refused to comply with commands, had cut his own wrists, and not knowing what might happen if he reached her. Defendant was taken down by a taser, still wielding the knife. Defendant was given commands to drop the knife and still did not comply. Defendant motioned the knife toward a Deputy. Another taser was deployed and Defendant dropped the knife. Defendant was placed in handcuffs. They applied pressure to his wrists and called an ambulance.
They observed bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. He was transported to the hospital. A PBT was.235. A search warrant was obtained and a blood draw performed. Deputies spoke with J. L. Who stated she did not want Defendant to get into trouble but that Defendant pushed her five or six times and punched her as hard as he could with a closed fist on her right hand. Defendant remained at the hospital for treatment related to his wrist injuries.
