On January 6, 2026, a Minneapolis Park Police officer was on a routine patrol in a fully marked squad car watching a three way stop at the intersection of James Avenue North and Golden Valley Road in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The area is frequented by pedestrians walking to and from the park, the high school, and the local corner stores. The officer observed a tan SUV traveling east on Golden Valley Road. The vehicle failed to stop at the posted stop sign. Officers activated the squad’s lights and attempted to catch up with the vehicle.
The officer also squawked the sirens to further alert the driver. The vehicle turned south on Girard Avenue North and then east into the parking lot on the south side of 1201 West Broadway. The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the Driver of the vehicle, later identified as REGINALD ISAIAH JOHNSON [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, gave officers a false name. After searching for the vehicle’s information, the officer located Defendant’s name associated with the vehicle and confirmed his identity.
Defendant had an active Hennepin County warrant for altering a serial number on a firearm. The officer reapproached the vehicle regarding the false name and to arrest Defendant. Defendant was non-compliance, rolled up the window, reached down to put the vehicle into reverse. Defendant reversed the vehicle backwards at a high rate of speed while also turning left and rammed into the police squad. Defendant then placed the vehicle into drive, slammed on the gas accelerating quickly towards Freemont Avenue North.
Ice and slush shot up into the officer’s face from Defendant’s vehicle. Defendant fled north onto Freemont Avenue driving the wrong way on a one-way. In post-Miranda statement, Defendant admitted to fleeing from the officer. Defendant is in custody.
