On or about February 4, 2026 at approximately 2:17 A.M., an officer on routine patrol in a marked squad car in Minneapolis noticed a Chevrolet Trail Blazer with MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED] with expired registration. The officer ran routine checks on the license plate, and the registered owner, S. R. J., came back as having a suspended license. The Trail Blazer drove northbound on Portland Avenue South from 66th Street in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The officer activated his squad’s emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.
The Trail Blazer did not come to a stop, so the officer activated his sirens. The Trail Blazer continued to drive north on Portland Avenue South, past the Highway 62 bridge. Once the Trail Blazer was past the bridge, it drove northbound in the southbound lane of traffic. Due to concerns that the Trail Blazer would cause an accident while driving in the wrong direction, the officer deactivated his emergency lights and sirens. The officer observed the Trail Blazer turn eastbound on 56th Street and then come to a complete stop.
Once the vehicle stopped, a white female slowly exited the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer did not see the driver’s side door open at any point and did not see anyone else exit the vehicle. The officer approached the female, who initially identified herself as Mackenzie Mae Mistelske, [DOB REDACTED]. NCIC checks were run on this name and birthdate, which came back as “valid and clear” out of Blackduck, Minnesota. Officers determined this female was not Mackenzie Mistelske. The female later identified herself as MAKAYLEE ANNE MISTELSKE, [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant” herein). Defendant stated that someone else had jumped out of the Trail Blazer and ran westbound.
Defendant initially said that the person who had jumped out of the Trail Blazer was the driver, and this person was a white female, approximately 5’2”, wearing a black Nike sweatshirt. Defendant said no one else was in the Trail Blazer. The officer looked in the Trail Blazer to confirm no one else was inside and noted the ignition appeared to be broken. He also saw a large metal hammer, a black hair clip, and white paper towels on the passenger seat. The paper towels did not appear to be sat on. The officer showed Defendant a photo of S. R. J., the registered owner of MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. S. R. J. Is a black female.
Defendant stated the person in the photo was the driver who had fled, despite previously telling the officer that the driver was a white female. When questioned about this, Defendant stated the driver was actually tan or Native American, and the driver “goes tanning a lot.” Defendant also said her boyfriend’s cousin had been driving the Trail Blazer. Officers set up a perimeter in the area and utilized a K9 and a State Patrol helicopter to attempt to locate a possible driver of the Trail Blazer. The MN State Trooper in the helicopter was able to locate a male sleeping in a tent in a nearby park but no other possible heat sources in the area.
