On February 4, 2026, officers found a stolen Chrysler 300 bearing Minnesota license plates ZEW252 blocking a lane on University Avenue. The Chrysler was involved in a Minneapolis shooting earlier in the day. The Chrysler moved into the parking lot at [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, Ramsey County. Officer Dahir followed the Chrysler into the lot and activated his squad’s emergency lights. A passenger got out, and the Chrysler fled east on University Avenue at a high rate of speed. Officer Dahir followed the Chrysler with his emergency lights on.
The Chrysler eventually drove into the wrong lane of traffic on University Avenue, and Officer Dahir immediately terminated the pursuit. Officer Dahir aired that Chrysler’s last location. An officer spoke to the passenger who got out at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. The passenger identified the Chrysler’s driver as JOSEPH MICHAEL DUNKLEY [DOB REDACTED]. The passenger said Dunkley had a star facial tattoo and wore a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and a face mask. Another officer found the Chrysler had crashed into a parked car on Thomas Avenue near Dale Street.
The Chrysler was unoccupied. Officers set up a perimeter in the area of the abandoned Chrysler. Officers stopped a man who matched the passenger’s description of the driver at St. Albans Street and Charles Avenue, St. Paul, Ramsey County. The man was Dunkley. Officers identified Dunkley and discovered he had a warrant for his arrest. Officers searched a black handbag that Dunkley had in his possession and found 3 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an empty gun holster, suspected cocaine, and a Dodge key. Officers brought the Dodge key to the abandoned Chrysler and verified that the key Dunkley possessed started the car.
Dunkley was advised of his constitutional rights and agreed to speak to officers. Dunkley admitted he drove the Chrysler and knew it had been stolen. Dunkley admitted he saw the squad’s emergency lights and fled. When asked about the location of the firearm so a child couldn’t find it, Dunkley said it was not within reach of a child. Dunkley would not further elaborate on the firearm’s location. Dunkley has 6 prior felony convictions: simple robbery, promoting or directing obscene sexual performance by a minor, a predatory offender registration violation, 2 VOCSL 5s, and a fleeing police in a motor vehicle.
The simple robbery and drug convictions make Dunkley ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition. On April 22, 2025, Dunkley received a downward dispositional departure on the fleeing police in a motor vehicle charge. The court found Dunkley particularly amenable to probation and remorseful.
