A Minneapolis man rammed an unmarked law enforcement vehicle with a stolen car, then jumped out while it was still moving and fled on foot before being arrested, according to the complaint.
Jose Sarmiento Miranda Jr., 24, faces five charges: fourth-degree assault of a peace officer causing bodily harm, receiving stolen property, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle and third-degree assault.
According to court records, officers with the Auto Theft Task Force responded to a reported auto theft in Minneapolis at about 12:47 p.m. on August 17, 2026. The victim told police that a second phone left inside the stolen vehicle was providing location information. Officers and detectives from law enforcement agencies positioned themselves near the vehicle’s last known location, using mostly unmarked vehicles.
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Officers saw two males enter the stolen vehicle. When officers activated their emergency lights to stop the car, the driver, later identified as Jose Sarmiento Miranda Jr., intentionally rammed an unmarked law enforcement vehicle before speeding away from the parking lot. Shortly after, Miranda jumped from the moving vehicle and ran away on foot. Officers apprehended him nearby and took him into custody.
The complaint states that the victim later found the vehicle keys under the driver’s seat. The front-seat passenger also fled on foot after the vehicle stopped and was apprehended nearby. At the time of arrest, the passenger was wearing the victim’s T-shirt and had the victim’s phone. Officers also found a white powdery substance in the passenger’s sock.
Miranda was transported to the hospital for evaluation after jumping from the moving vehicle, then taken to the Hennepin County Jail. Both Miranda and the passenger were booked into jail following their arrests. The charges were filed Wednesday, August 19, in Hennepin County District Court.
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
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
