On February 16, 2026, at approximately 4:32 P.M., Officer Hengtgen was on patrol in a fully marked White Bear Lake Police squad car traveling south on Highway 61, White Bear Lake, County of Ramsey, and behind a black Chevrolet Silverado. The squad license plate reader alerted that the registered owner of the vehicle-ROBERT DENNIS MILLER, [DOB REDACTED]- had a revoked driver’s license status. It was later determined MILLER was driving the vehicle. The vehicle turned onto Whitaker Street. Officer Hengtgen activated lights to initiate a traffic stop near Taco John’s. The driver-MILLER-continued northeast through Taco John’s parking lot at approximately 20- 30 mph.
The driver did not brake for a pedestrian in the parking lot, swerving around them. MILLER ran a stop sign at approximately 20 mph, and turned south onto Lake Avenue South, crossing over the centerline. Officer Hengtgen activated squad emergency siren. MILLER accelerated away from the squad car, turned north from Lake Avenue South, onto the frozen White Bear Lake. Officer Hengtgen lost visual of the vehicle and turned off emergency lights and siren. Officer Hengtgen observed the vehicle traveling at a high speed on the lake.
Other officers responded and all entrances and exits to the lake were blocked. MILLER was observed driving in different directions toward different exits. MILLER eventually drove to an ice house near Matoska Beach, exited, and entered the ice house. MILLER was taken into custody at approximately 5:25 P.M. After a Miranda advisory, MILLER spoke to Officer Hengtgen. MILLER said he did not know anyone was behind him because his music was turned up. He said he drove to the lake looking for his buddies.
He drove around the lake because he had multiple ice shacks on the lake.
