Notice: Pursuant to Minnesota Rule of Criminal Procedure 7.02, the prosecution provides notice that, at trial, the State will offer evidence of the following offenses, in addition to the offense herein charged, for the purpose of proving the motive, intent, preparation, plan, and identity of the perpetrator. ••-CR-••-•••• On 12/17/2021, Cortes was arrested while in possession of a vehicle that was stolen about an hour earlier. Its license plate had been switched. CORTES claimed he did not know how he came to be inside of the vehicle.
Cortes was convicted of this offense. ••-CR-••-•••• On 12-04-2020, Cortes was stopped driving a stolen Toyota, displaying a stolen license plate, in White Bear Lake, Ramsey County. Cortes was convicted of this offense. ••-CR-••-•••• On 06-26-2018, Cortes was arrested driving a stolen Honda. He told officers that the bought it from “John” for $200 but claimed he bought it two days before it was stolen. Cortes was convicted of Auto Theft. 62-CR-18-61 On 1/1/2018, Cortes was arrested driving a Mazda CX-7 that was stolen less than 2 hours earlier.
He claimed he got it from a man named “Vinnie” but could not remember when he got it or how long he had had it. Cortes was convicted of Auto Theft. ••-CR-••-•••• On 01/11/2017, Cortes was arrested after driving a stolen Ford Explorer. Cortes said he thought the vehicle might have been a “bait car” so he got out of the vehicle before police stopped him. Cortes was convicted of Auto Theft (GM). Current offense: On 11/22/25 at 0028 hours, A Ramsey County Deputy saw a male, later identified as Edgar CORTES ([DOB REDACTED]), get into the driver’s seat of a 2018 Subaru Forester (MN/RCB667) near Cook Ave and Park Street in St. Paul, Ramsey County.
The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Inver Grove Heights less than 24 hours before. The value of the vehicle exceeded $5,000. CORTES did a U-turn and then passed the Deputy driving at a high rate of speed. The Deputy got behind the fleeing vehicle, activated the squad’s emergency lights and siren, and tried to stop it. CORTES did not stop. Instead, he continued to flee. The ensuing pursuit covered 3 miles and lasted 4 minutes. During the pursuit, CORTES drove over a sidewalk, failed to stop at multiple stop signs, drove in opposing traffic lanes, drove over 70 MPH in 25 MPH zones, and drove through several alleys.
Deputies were eventually able to deploy stop sticks which caused tires on the stolen vehicle to deflate and CORTES finally stopped in front of [ADDRESS REDACTED] in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. There, CORTES was taken into custody. CORTES claimed he had swallowed Fentanyl and was transported to Regions Hospital for evaluation prior to being booked into the Ramsey County Jail. CORTES declined to be interviewed. CORTES has at least 12 prior felony convictions. 2 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 11/24/2025 For purposes of Rule 6.02, CORTES has an open case for 5th Degree Drugs (••-CR-••-••••) and his felony conviction history includes: 2nd Degree Burglary; ••-CR-••-•••• Receiving Stolen Property; ••-CR-••-•••• Auto Theft; ••-CR-••-•••• Receiving Stolen Property; ••-CR-••-•••• Receiving Stolen Property; ••-CR-••-•••• Check Forgery; ••-CR-••-•••• Theft; ••-CR-••-•••• 5th Degree Drugs; ••-CR-••-•••• Auto Theft; ••-CR-••-•••• 2nd Degree Burglary; ••-CR-••-•••• Threats of Violence; 62-CR-18-82 Auto Theft; 62-CR-18-61 Auto Theft; ••-CR-••-•••• (GM per 609.
