On 9/21/25 at about 0830 hours, Minneapolis Police responded to a report of an auto theft. Police spoke to the vehicle’s owner, VMV, who said that someone stole his 2012 Kia Rio (MN/SLV528). According to Carfax.com, the average value of a 2012 Kia Rio is $6,110. On 09/25/2025 at about 2338 hours, Roseville Police spotted a Kia Rio traveling at a very high rate of speed in a 20 mph construction zone near Dale St N in Roseveille, Ramsey County. The officer estimated its speed at 80 mph. The vehicle was driven by a black male with a gray sweatshirt and was not displaying any license plates.
Kias are commonly stolen vehicle and auto thieves commonly remove a vehicle’s license plates in order to thwart law enforcement efforts to identify it. The officer caught up to the Kia and initiated a traffic stop by activating the squad’s emergency lights. The driver did not stop. He continued driving, made several turns, and drove through stop signs. For public safety reasons, the officer deactivated the squad’s emergency lights but continued to follow at routine speeds. The vehicle traveled from eastbound Larpenteur to northbound Sylvan St N. Where the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
A search of the vehicle’s VIN revealed that it was VMV’s stolen Kia and should have been displaying MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. A perimeter was established and, with the assistance of the Ramsey County Sherrif’s Deputies and the State Patrol, the suspect was quickly captured on nearby railroad tracks. He was identified as Javon Jermaine CHALMERS [DOB REDACTED]. CHALMERS’ driver’s license status was revoked. In a post-Miranda statement, CHALMERS admitted that he was driving the Kia. He said he fled from the police because he didn't have a valid driver's license.
He also said the Kia belonged to his friend, Deshaun PRIOR, and that he knew PRIOR to have owned the vehicle for about a month. The officer was aware, however, that the Kia had been stolen just 4 days earlier. CHALMERS said he did not have a key for the Kia and used his phone charger to start it instead. It is common auto thieves to damage a Kia’s ignition so that it can be driven without a key.
