On January 9, 2026, Clay County Sheriff's Deputies were advised by Metro Street Crimes Detectives that Raphael Jamell Murphy [DOB REDACTED](hereinafter "Defendant") was believed to be entering Clay County, Minnesota. Defendant was known to have multiple warrants for his arrest, including a Minnesota DOC warrant and a Second Degree Drug Sale warrant. Defendant is also known to have a previous conviction for assaulting a peace officer. Deputies were made aware that Defendant was possibly traveling in a 2023 White Chevrolet Silverado with MN license plate LSK 575. Clay County Sheriff Sgt.
S. Mork observed the vehicle drive past in the area of Downer, MN and the Sgt. Mork observed the registration to be expired as of November 2025. Deputy M. Schultz, driving a fully marked squad vehicle, then observed the vehicle in traveling westbound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 8 in the County of Clay, State of Minnesota. Dep. Schultz pulled behind the vehicle, which began swerving in both lanes and had its high beams activated. Dep. Schultz initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle was slow to stop but came to a stop just before the exit ramp at Highway 336. Dep.
Schultz approached the vehicle and gave the driver commands to roll down the window. The windows were heavily tinted, obstructing Dep. Schultz's view of the inside of the vehicle. Dep. Schultz determined the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and believed the driver to be the Defendant. Defendant refused to follow commands and reached down towards his lap multiple times despite being told not to. Defendant rolled the window up and down throughout the encounter. Defendant became confrontational.
Dep. Schultz gave Defendant commands to step out of the vehicle and Defendant then accelerated away from the traffic stop. Upon first approach to the vehicle, tire deflation devices were placed in front of the both back tires. As Defendant accelerated away, the rear passenger tire deflated. Deputies pursued Defendant, who reached speeds of 80 miles per hour. Defendant continued to travel westbound on I-94. Stop sticks were successfully deployed in the area of 34th St on I-94, deflating one of the front tires.
Defendant continued to flee, now traveling around 55 mph. Spike strips we4re again successfully deployed, this time in the area of Main Ave and 20th St S on I-94 in Clay County. Following the second successful stop stick deployment, the vehicle slowed down to 20 mph and then stopped. Law enforcement observed Defendant throw something out of the passenger side window. Officers later located a bag containing a powder substance suspected to be fentanyl. After Defendant stopped, he began to flee law enforcement again.
Dep. B. Heide executed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle, causing Defendant to come to spin around and come to a stop. Dep. Heide then turned his squad vehicle around and pinned the vehicle from behind. A Detective then positioned his squad vehicle at Defendant's front bumper to pin the vehicle and attempt to stop any further attempts to flee. Officers executed a high risk traffic stop and Defendant eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. Defendant acknowledged to law enforcement that he was aware of his warrants.
