The following is based on your complainant’s review of the reports of other officers and your complainant’s own investigation: St. Paul Police have recently responded to numerous reports of quality-of-life crimes in the area of Clarence St. And Maryland Ave., St. Paul, Ramsey County, including narcotics use and sales, theft, harassment of the public, and disorderly conduct. These crimes have negatively impacted businesses, in some cases forcing them to modify their operations and reduce their hours.
On June 16, 2026, at about 5:30pm, St. Paul Police observed a man loitering at Clarence and Maryland. A Chrysler Town & Country stopped in the middle of the roadway, and the man entered. The vehicle – which lacked a front license plate – drove a short distance but then turned around and parked where it had originally been seen to have stopped. It appeared to officers that a drug transaction was occurring. Officers pulled up behind the Chrysler, with squad lights and sirens active, to conduct a traffic stop.
Instead, as an officer began to approach on foot, the vehicle fled westbound on Maryland. Officers observed the Chrysler turn northbound from Maryland onto Johnson Parkway, which becomes Wheelock Parkway. The vehicle was traveling slowly, with the passenger door open. A male passenger fell out onto the ground. (The passenger later told officers that he had told the driver to let him out.) Over the following minutes, officers observed Chrysler traveling in the area. They could see the driver. He disobeyed several traffic control signals, including driving through a red light, but traveled at normal speeds.
A minute after the vehicle had been last seen, it was found parked in the alley of a home at Maryland Ave. And Duluth St. The driver was seen walking from it toward a nearby home. A resident of the home was found to be the registered owner of the Chrysler. She told officers that her friend “Zay” had been driving it. She claimed that he had fled on foot. Eventually, a man whom officers recognized as the driver exited the home. He was identified as the defendant, TAZARIUS JOMAR BROWN ([DOB REDACTED]). A warrant was found to be outstanding for his arrest.
He was taken into custody. In a Mirandized interview, the defendant said that he had fled because of the warrant. He said that he had returned the Chrysler to the resident of the home so that it would not be towed.
