On April 26, 2026, at approximately 3:45 A.M., a Hennepin County Sherrif's Deputy was on routine patrol and noticed a vehicle not using their turn signals while turning onto West Broadway Avenue, in Minneapolis, Hennepin County. The deputy got behind the vehicle and ran the Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. The registered owner came back as JAY ARTHUR VANLERBERGHE, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter "Defendant." Defendant also had a driving license cancelled as inimical to public safety. The deputy began following the vehicle, and it made a turn into a parking lot of a strip mall on West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue.
As she continued to follow the vehicle, the vehicle exited the parking lot off West Broadway Avenue and the deputy turned on her squad lights and put the spotlight at the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle stopped at a red light briefly and then proceeded through it. The vehicle proceeded to go through another red light just ahead and turn onto the ramp of interstate I-94 Eastbound. The deputy initiated her squad emergency lights, turned on her squad siren, and started following the vehicle on interstate I-94 eastbound.
The vehicle was accelerating away from the deputy and she temporary lost visual of the vehicle going through the Lowry Hill tunnel. As the deputy exited the tunnel, she observed Defendant's vehicle with heavy front-end damage parked in the left shoulder up against the center median. She also observed a vehicle bearing ZUS061 with significant rear end damage at approximately 250 feet down the highway blocking the two left lanes. The deputy stepped out of the vehicle and immediately tried rendering aid to the driver of the vehicle who was hit.
A backseat passenger in this vehicle stated Defendant's vehicle hit them and their vehicle had spun out several times. Emergency medics arrived on scene shortly thereafter, and Defendant was taken to HCMC. After arriving to HCMC, hospital staff took a scan of Defendant's head and body and stated he was not harmed. Deputies obtained a search warrant signed by the Honorable Judge Woods for Defendant's blood or urine. Defendant was informed of the search warrant and refused to provide a sample of urine or blood despite multiple attempts.
Defendant was brought to the Hennepin County jail where he remains in custody. Defendant has a prior conviction for 1st Degree DWI in Court File ••-CR-••-•••• on 9/18/2015.
