On April 19, 2023, at approximately 7:00pm, near Anderson Lakes Parkway and Flying Cloud Drive in the City of Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Eden Prairie police officers initiated a traffic stop of a van that was missing its front license plate, had expired tabs, and a rear license plate that was registered to a party in Menahga, Minnesota, nearly 200 miles southwest of Eden Prairie. The vehicle was also traveling slower than the speed of traffic. Initially, the van appeared to be pulling over, but then it began to accelerate and a chase ensued, wherein the van traveled at speeds exceeding 90 MPH. Police conducted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to stop the vehicle.
Once stopped, police observed a later identified female as the driver of the vehicle, and FRANK ROBERT BROWN, [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, as the passenger. Both parties were ordered out of the vehicle. Defendant leaned over from the passenger seat, and put the van in gear, continuing to flee. Police were able to stop the van once again, and finally Defendant exited the vehicle. Both parties were taken into custody. The identified female advised police that there was a gun in the vehicle. Defendant denied knowing anything about guns in the car when asked by police.
During a search of the vehicle, police found numerous items seemingly not belonging to Defendant and his companion including checks, debit, credit cards, a vehicle title and cellphones. Numerous parties whose names were listed on these items were contacted during the course of investigation, and reported most of the items as stolen or missing, including the vehicle the two individuals had been driving. Also recovered was a bag of a brown substance, weighing 20.52 grams that field tested positive as methamphetamine, and a firearm, a Ruger LC9 with S/N 45824601, which had been reported stolen.
Buccal swabs were taken from Defendant and his companion. A swab was also taken from the handgun. A BCA Laboratory report determined that a swab taken from the handgun contained DNA from four individuals, two of which included Defendant and his female companion. Additionally, DNA located on the firearm magazine matched Defendant’s DNA. Defendant has the following qualifying convictions prohibiting him from possessing a firearm: MNCIS No. ••-CR-••-•••• - March 14, 2024 - Felony Financial Transaction Card Fraud; MNCIS No. ••-CR-••-•••• – June 3, 2020 – Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle; and MNCIS No. ••-CR-••-•••• – April 13, 2017 – Drugs – First Degree Sale – 10 Grams or More.
