At approximately 9:07 PM on November 18th, 2025, officers from the Cottage Grove Police Department responded to a report of a shoplifting in progress at the Walmart store located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], in the City of Cottage Grove, within Washington County. Officers were advised that the suspects had left in a motor vehicle with a male driving and provided police with a description. Officers located the suspect vehicle a short distance away and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the vehicle accelerated and fled.
Officers followed the vehicle for several miles as it exceeded 100mph and ran several stop signs/lights. The vehicle entered a residential area, and officers terminated the pursuit. Officers were able to review surveillance video from the Walmart and obtained images of the male. The suspect male was then identified by law enforcement as MICHAEL ALLEN BARNES [DOB REDACTED], the defendant, using DVS photos in comparison to the video images. One officer involved in the pursuit, who had obtained a visual of the male driving the car noted that the defendant's physical appearance was consistent with the male he saw driving.
A short time later, officers went to the defendant's address, and in the parking lot outside, located the suspect vehicle.
