A Maplewood man led police on a high-speed chase with three young children in his vehicle, then struck an officer in the jaw while resisting arrest, according to charges.
Elmer Tobias Smith, 45, faces four charges: fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, fourth-degree assault of a peace officer causing bodily harm, refusing to submit to a chemical test and third-degree assault. The charges were filed August 17 in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, at about 10:34 p.m. on August 15, a Maplewood police officer in a marked squad car observed a red Dodge Caravan driving erratically on westbound Highway 36 in Maplewood. The officer saw the Caravan having trouble staying in its lane, crossing over the fog line and jerking back. As the vehicle entered the cloverleaf to exit southbound on I-35E, it sped up and nearly collided with a white panel van.
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The officer activated emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the Caravan accelerated, drove onto the shoulder and passed the van on the right, nearly causing a crash. The officer then activated sirens and pursued the Caravan, which continued to ignore the squad’s lights and sirens. The pursuit ended when the Caravan finally stopped after exiting at Larpenteur Avenue.
Officers identified the driver as Elmer Tobias Smith. Police noted Smith smelled strongly of alcohol, slurred his words and had very poor balance, nearly falling over. While being handcuffed, Smith slipped one hand out of the cuffs and began to resist. During the struggle, he swung his right fist, still attached to the handcuff, and struck a uniformed officer in the jaw, causing a bleeding injury.
Officers attempted to read Smith the breath test advisory, but he refused to acknowledge it or make a decision about providing a breath sample. Based on his demeanor, officers determined Smith refused to provide the sample. The complaint states that while Smith was driving, three children, ages 8, 4 and 2, were in the vehicle. He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, August 18.
Smith was scheduled to appear in Ramsey County court on August 18, 2026.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from gross-misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Ramsey County encompasses Saint Paul and is served by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Felony cases are heard in the Second Judicial District at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown Saint Paul; the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
