On February 6, 2026, at approximately 1:07 A.M., a Minnesota State trooper was monitoring traffic on the ramp from Pascal Street to eastbound Interstate 94 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. The trooper observed a gray Chevrolet Equinox in the left lane traveling at a visibly high rate of speed with its turn signal on. The trooper’s radar reflected that the vehicle was traveling at 91 mph in a 55 mph zone. The trooper, and another trooper who was also stationary on the ramp, began pursuing the vehicle.
The vehicle continued traveling at high rates of speed and repeatedly weaved over lane lines, at one point nearly striking construction barrels and a sign trailer on the shoulder. The trooper activated the squad’s emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle accelerated and crossed the apex to take the ramp to Marion Street. The trooper activated the squad’s siren and dispatched out information to surrounding law enforcement. As the vehicle slowed and turned left onto Marion Street, the trooper attempted a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver.
However, the driver was able to drive out of the PIT. The Equinox continued northbound on Marion Street through Rondo Avenue and was driving at unpredictable speeds. The trooper attempted another PIT maneuver, which was unsuccessful. The trooper realized that there would not be another safe opportunity for a PIT maneuver, so the trooper deactivated the squad’s emergency lights and sirens and advised dispatch that the trooper was discontinuing the pursuit. The trooper was informed that the State Patrol helicopter had eyes on the vehicle, and the troopers continued following the vehicle at safe and reasonable speeds.
Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies were able to successfully deploy stop sticks on the vehicle as it traveled northbound on Rice Street. The trooper was advised that the vehicle parked at the gas pumps at Speedway gas station on Rice Street and the driver fled on foot eastbound across Rice Street. The Sheriff’s Department deployed a K9. In the McDonald’s parking lot, the driver surrendered as the K9 was jumping at/on him. The driver was identified as JASSON STEVEN ESPINOZA – [DOB REDACTED]. The trooper noted that ESPINOZA smelled of a strong odor of alcoholic beverage and observed him to have bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech.
ESPINOZA refused to submit to a PBT. ESPINOZA was transported to the Ramsey County Jail. The trooper read ESPINOZA the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory. ESPINOZA was given approximately 20 minutes to contact a lawyer. ESPINOZA refused to provide a breath sample for the DMT test. When asked the reason for refusing, ESPINOZA said, “I don’t want to answer no questions.” ESPINOZA declined to provide a statement following a Miranda advisory.
