On June 17, 2026, at approximately 6:49 P.M., Metro Transit Officer Benson announced that a white Toyota sedan, Minnesota License TND 328, Black female driver wearing a white crop top, was speeding on University Avenue, Saint Paul, County of Ramsey. The vehicle sped past Officer Benson’s squad car, almost striking a gray truck. Officer Benson activated emergency lights and sirens to stop the vehicle, but it continued driving. In the area of University Avenue and Park Street, Officer Benson changed the squad siren to signal the driver to stop.
The driver hit her brakes, but then turned south onto Robert Street and sped off. Officer Benson aired the license plate of the vehicle, and the descriptions of the vehicle and driver. Officer Benson observed the driver run the red lights on 12th and 10th Street. Officers Morales and Fickett were traveling east on 7th Street when they observed the vehicle speeding south on Jackson through the interaction of 7th Street. The vehicle made a right turn onto 7th Place in the wrong direction of the one way street.
The vehicle parked on the side of the road on 7th Place. A female- later identified as SARYIA ARIEL JOHNSON, [DOB REDACTED], was observed running back and forth outside of the vehicle. JOHNSON wore an off-white short sleeved shirt with short sleeves. As Officer Fickett approached the female, she said, “You don’t understand…. I need to get my daughter.” JOHNSON was told she was under arrest for fleeing, and was handcuffed. While in the back of the squad car, JOHNSON said she fled from police because she was late picking up her child [NAME REDACTED]. JOHNSON said she has no support and did not have anyone to pick up her daughter.
She said her car tire was flat and had to be fixed, making her late. Officer Benson responded to where officers were with JOHNSON, and identified her as the driver the fled from his attempt to stop the vehicle. There was a young infant, approximately 6-8 months, in a car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. JOHNSON’s identification card was in the vehicle. CN was inside of the vehicle. A bottle of alcohol was found under the front passenger seat. CN said the bottle container was hers. The license plate on the vehicle returned to a white Explorer, and did not match the vehicle on scene.
The VIN number for the vehicle on scene returned to a white Toyota Camry with Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. After a Miranda advisory, JOHNSON spoke to an investigator. When asked why she did not stop for officers. JOHNSON said she was late picking up her daughter. She said she was driving, and her sister was a passenger.
