On 3/22/26 at about 1300 hours, St. Paul Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle theft at 12xx St. Clair in St. Paul, Ramsey County. The vehicle’s owner, JAH, told police that he parked his 1996 Honda Accord (WI/AZU5517) there at about 1900 hours on 3/21/26 and someone stole it overnight. On 3/23/26 at about 1401 hours, a Ramsey County Deputy spotted the stolen Honda parked on Sturgis St near Garfield St. In St. Paul, Ramsey County. The vehicle was occupied by a single Asian male in the driver’s seat.
As squads converged on the vehicle, the suspect unsuccessfully fled on foot east on Sturgis St and then through a yard at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. The male threw an XBOX gaming system and a shoulder bag as he fled. The suspect was taken into custody in the backyard of [ADDRESS REDACTED] and identified as Chong XIONG [DOB REDACTED]. During a search incident to arrest, on XIONG’s person, Deputies found several shaved keys and an ASP baton. Auto thieves commonly use shaved keys in order to defeat the vehicle’s locking ignition.
During a post-Miranda interview, XIONG said he ran because he was "scared." XIONG admitted driving the Honda and parking it at its current location. He said he was "test driving" it. When asked for the vehicle’s key, XIONG made conflicting statements. First he said "somebody else started it," then he said a key was broken off in the ignition, and then said that the person that started it took the key with him. When asked how he turned the car off, XHIONG said he "just turned the ignition" but denied ever having a key.
For purposes of Rule 6.