On January 29, 2026, at approximately 8: 21 P.M., Robbinsdale Police officers received an alert indicating a stolen vehicle was driving eastbound on 36th Ave. N. Toward Robbinsdale, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The vehicle was identified, and checks indicated that it had been stolen out of Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota on January 27, 2026, with the keys. Police caught up with the vehicle at 36th Ave. N. And Major Ave. North in Robbinsdale, Hennepin County, Minnesota and confirmed the license plate matched the report of the stolen vehicle.
Police activated their emergency overhead lights to stop the vehicle. Upon activating the lights, the driver, later identified as SHALENA RAE COOPER [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, rapidly accelerated at a high rate of speed. The vehicle traveled at speeds between 60-80 miles per hour for approximately 1.94 miles, weaving around other vehicles and passing them on the shoulder. When the vehicle eventually stopped, Defendant was placed under arrest. While attempting to identify her, Defendant gave police a false name and date of birth.
She acknowledged she did this because she has active warrants. In the vehicle, police observed numerous needle caps and pieces of burnt tinfoil consistent with drug use, inside of the vehicle near the driver. Once in the back seat of the police squad car, Defendant requested to go to the hospital because she said she had ingested 2 grams of rock fentanyl. This case was previously charged under a different court file number as the suspect was believed to be Defendant's sister because of a fingerprint match.
However, further investigation revealed that the true suspect was Defendant. Defendant told police her fingerprints were identifying her as her sister because of her past. Police confirmed Defendant's identity after reviewing known images of Defendant. Further, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Defendant's blood and the results of that showed Defendant had amphetamine and methamphetamine in her system. At this time, the State requests a warrant issue for Defendant.