On January 8, 2026, at around 1:08am, New Brighton Officer Joseph Super was on patrol when he observed a motor vehicle fail to fully stop at a red semaphore while turning right from Silver Lake Road onto the entrance ramp for I-649 west. While following the vehicle, he also observed it change lanes without signaling. Officer Super activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle near westbound I-694 and Matterhorn Drive in Fridley, Anoka County, MN. The vehicle slowed but refused to stop and exited onto Central Avenue.
Officer Super used his manual horn several times, but the vehicle continued on Central Avenue in Fridley. Officer Super then activated his emergency siren. The vehicle turned onto Hackmann Ave NE and finally came to a complete stop in the middle of the road near [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in Fridley. Officer Super exited his squad and ordered the driver to shut off the vehicle. The driver did not comply, revved the engine, and began driving away. Officer Super pursued the vehicle, which came to a complete stop before fleeing east on Hillwind Road NE. Officer Super observed the vehicle veer left into the opposite lane of traffic and run through a stop sign as it fled.
Officer Super suspected the driver may be impaired. Officer Super lost sight of the vehicle after it increased speed, but later located it again and found it stopped with no one in the driver's seat. A female passenger in the front seat was detained, confirmed to be the registered owner, and denied knowing the driver's identity. She said she knew the driver as "Shawn" and had been drinking with him at a bar in New Brighton. Many officers were now on scene to assist in locating the driver, including a K9 and a drone operator.
Defendant was eventually located and continued to flee on foot. He was eventually caught and identified by his MN DL as DESHAWN LAMAR SMITH [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein. Officer Super detected an odor of alcohol on Defendant and noted that Defendant's eyes were bloodshot and watery. At the police station, Defendant declined to provide a PBT sample or to perform field sobriety tests. Officer Super then read Defendant the Breath Test Advisory, and Defendant requested to speak with an attorney. Defendant eventually agreed to the DMT breath test, which yielded a result of 0.05 BAC at 3:43am.
Officer Super ran Defendant's information and learned that he had an active warrant for driving after cancellation-inimical to public safety. He also verified that Defendant's [DL# REDACTED] canceled for being inimical to public safety. Defendant had a valid permit to carry a firearm. During a search of the vehicle, officers found an open bottle of alcohol and a water bottle containing brown/clear liquid in the center console. Officers also found a firearm in the backyard where Defendant was seen.
