A 39-year-old South Saint Paul man faces six felony charges after police say he shoplifted more than $1,000 in merchandise from a Maple Grove Nordstrom Rack, took off in a vehicle that wasn’t his and led officers on a chase that ended with multiple crashes in Minneapolis.
Derrick James Holmes was charged April 7 in Hennepin County District Court with theft of a motor vehicle, felony obstruction of legal process, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, theft of movable property and two counts of fifth-degree drug possession. All six counts are felonies.
According to the criminal complaint, Maple Grove police were near the Nordstrom Rack on March 11 when they spotted a vehicle parked illegally in the lot. Officers watched Holmes leave the store at a rapid pace pushing a cart full of unbagged items, which they noted was inconsistent with the store’s practice of bagging purchased merchandise. Holmes frantically loaded the pile of items into the rear driver side of the vehicle.
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Police activated their emergency lights and pulled a squad car toward the vehicle. Holmes reversed rapidly into a parking pole, damaging the vehicle, then drove forward. Officers told Holmes he was not free to leave, but he scanned the area as if looking for a way out and then fled at a high rate of speed, leaving a passenger behind.
The passenger turned out to be the vehicle’s owner. She confirmed Holmes did not have her permission to take the red Lincoln with Minnesota plates and flee from police. The vehicle owner told investigators Holmes is abusive and has taken her car before without consent.
Holmes drove around the parking lot, jumped a curb and collided with another vehicle at an intersection before taking off again. Officers broke off their pursuit because of his erratic driving. A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter tracked Holmes as he continued driving recklessly, eventually crashing into another vehicle in Minneapolis. Hennepin County deputies located him with the helicopter’s help and arrested him. Holmes also had an outstanding warrant at the time.
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The occupants of the vehicle Holmes struck described injuries but declined medical attention.
During a search after the arrest, officers found 0.68 grams of methamphetamine and 0.22 grams of fentanyl on Holmes. Police confirmed he stole approximately $1,100 in merchandise from Nordstrom Rack without paying.
Holmes has a prior controlled substance conviction in Hennepin County. He also had a hold from the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on March 11 and released March 16.
Holmes’ first court appearance is scheduled for April 27. The most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
