On April 11th at approximately 3:48pm, law enforcement from the Dilworth Police Department were dispatched to the area of 7th Street NE and 3rd Avenue NE in Dilworth, Clay County, Minnesota for a report of a stolen vehicle. The Complainant A. D. Reported that her vehicle had been stolen by Raymond Falcon III ([DOB redacted]), hereafter "Defendant." The Defendant had taken the vehicle from the Complainant without permission. Dispatch relayed to law enforcement that the vehicle was a White Ford Explorer with MN license plate RHL907. Officer Stetz reported observing the vehicle northbound on 7th Street but the vehicle was too far away from Officer Stetz for him to confirm the make or model.
Deputy Fildes of the Clay County Sheriff's Department stopped at the intersection of 6th Street and 28th Avenue North and waited for the vehicle. Deputy Fildes had his emergency lights activated from his emergent response to the call for service and observed the vehicle. The vehicle proceeded and did not yield to Deputy Fildes emergency lights. The vehicle began actively flashing their high beams at Deputy Fildes and continued traveling northbound passing Deputy Fildes and turning westbound on 28th Avenue North, failing to stop for the stop sign at that intersection.
Deputy Fildes radioed dispatch that the vehicle appeared to be fleeing and he attempted to catch up to the vehicle. Deputy Fildes reported traveling at speeds around 100 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. The Defendant continued to throw items out of the vehicle in an attempt to possibly disable Deputy Fildes squad or terminate the pursuit. In the 3000 Block of 70th Avenue North, the Defendant threw a Target basket and a large metal mechanical wrench at the Defendant's squad car, nearly striking it. The wrench could have caused severe injury to Fildes or caused him to crash if it had struck the squad.
White at the intersection of Oakport Street and 70th Avenue North, the Defendant slowed the vehicle dramatically and motioned as if he was going to stop, but did not. Deput Fildes attempted to perform a PIT maneuver at this point; however, the Defendant was able to recover the vehicle. At this time another vehicle on the roadway pulled to the shoulder to yield to the pursuit and the Defendant left his lane of travel and attempted to act as if he was going to strike the vehicle. The Defendant drove directly at the other vehicle, nearly missed them with a short distance of 2-3 feet separating the two vehicles.
Deputy Fildes was eventually able to successfully perform a PIT maneuver and stop the Defendant. The Defendant was subsequently arrested. Officer Stetz spoke with the Defendant who admitted to taking the vehicle and fleeing.
