On October 3, 2025, at approximately 8:27 A.M., Hopkins Police Officers were dispatched to Knollwood Apartments located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] in the City of Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers Pearsall and Anderson spoke with the reporting party and property manager, A. G., who stated that a vehicle had damaged the property’s fence in the back of the parking lot, along with siding to a neighboring garage. The officers went to the area and observed damaged fence panels and siding to a neighboring garage structure that was behind the fence, and tire track ruts in the grass.
A. G. Showed officers video which captured the incident and showed at approximately 6:00 A.M. That morning, a red Ford sedan bearing Minnesota temporary tag 04259799, was parking in the back parking lot facing south. The video shows the Ford reverse out of the parking space, then abruptly accelerate forward and crashing into the property fence and getting stuck on the curb. Two males, including the driver later identified as JUAN CARLOS LARA ALVARADO, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, exited the Ford, walked over to a work van parked nearby and tried to use the van to pull the red Ford out of the rut.
Officer Anderson spoke with the defendant with the use of the language line. The defendant stated he recently purchased the red sedan, approximately 5-8 days prior, and leaves it parked in the complex’s parking lot. The defendant stated on the morning of October 3, 2025, he went to start the vehicle and move it to another parking spot so that the vehicle wasn’t parked in one spot for an extended period of time and when he did “something happened to the brakes”, he was unable to stop and drove into the fence.
The defendant stated he was able to get the vehicle out of the rut with the help of some other people and was rushing to work as he was afraid he would lose his job and it was too early to advise the management company of the incident and he did not have someone available to translate for him. The defendant stated he wanted to take full responsibility and that since he just purchased the vehicle, he did not have insurance on it. On October 6, 2025, Hopkins Police received a call from P. L., who stated that his property is on the other side of the fence and his garage was damaged as a part of this incident, including siding that was damaged and torn, and damage to several support joists.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
