A man fled from police on a motorized scooter, running multiple stop signs before losing control and crashing into a parking lot.
Austin Hoffman Stephens, 46, of Maplewood, faces charges of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. According to the complaint, an officer attempted to stop Stephens by activating the squad car’s emergency lights, but he continued to drive away, leading to a pursuit that lasted about 4,500 feet.
The incident occurred in the early hours of September 2, 2026, at the intersection of County Road B and Hamline Avenue in Roseville.
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During the chase, Stephens ran two sets of stop signs before losing control of the scooter while turning into a parking lot. Officers took him into custody and discovered that the scooter was displaying a fictitious license plate. A check of the vehicle identification number revealed that the scooter had been reported stolen out of Minneapolis in July 2024.
The license plate tab belonged to a different vehicle, and police found a razor blade taped to the back of the plate, suggesting it was intended for stealing license plate tabs.
After being read his rights, Stephens apologized for his actions and claimed he had purchased the scooter from a friend, denying any knowledge of it being stolen. The scooter is classified as a motorcycle and is registered as such in Minnesota.
Stephens is currently in custody at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 27, 2026. The complaint notes that Stephens has prior felony convictions, including fifth-degree drug possession and DWI, as well as a recent guilty plea to third-degree burglary on August 31, 2026.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s general theft statute is § 609.52. Penalties scale with the dollar value taken: more than $500 is a gross misdemeanor, more than $1,000 is a five-year felony and more than $5,000 is a 10-year felony. Theft of a firearm, or a theft of more than $35,000 by swindle or another listed method, carries up to 20 years. Burglary is charged separately under § 609.582.
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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.
