A Saint Paul man drove a stolen vehicle onto a Minneapolis sidewalk and fled from officers at high speed, according to charges.
Gaddis Dolomite Johnson, 41, faces two felony charges: theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. The theft count carries a maximum of five years in prison, and the fleeing count carries a maximum of three years and one day.
According to the complaint, officers found a confirmed stolen vehicle parked near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and 14th Street East in Minneapolis at about 10:42 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Officers monitored cameras and saw an individual, identified as Johnson, enter the stolen vehicle. Officers recognized Johnson from prior police contacts.
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As officers arrived and activated their emergency lights, Johnson drove the stolen vehicle onto the sidewalk for a distance before reentering the roadway and fleeing at a high rate of speed, the complaint says. Due to the dangerousness of his driving, officers decided not to pursue. The vehicle was later found abandoned in another area of Minneapolis.
Officers recovered the vehicle and observed that its steering column was stripped, exposing the ignition. The complaint states Johnson did not have permission to take or drive the vehicle.
The complaint says Johnson has three prior convictions for felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
The complaint was filed Oct. 2 in Hennepin County District Court.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Saint Paul Man Charged After Home Burglary, Stolen Honda in Minneapolis • Saint Paul Man Charged After Garage Break-In, Bike Theft • Hopkins Man Charged After Police Find Him with Stolen Truck
Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
