An Andover man fleeing police smashed through three gates at the Arden Hills Army Training Site on October 1 before driving into a swamp, according to charges.

Douglas Donald Burke, 47, of Andover, faces felony charges of first-degree damage to property and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

According to the complaint, shortly before 3:30 a.m. on October 1, 2026, a Fridley police officer saw a Chevrolet Silverado repeatedly accelerating and braking and driving on the fog line on 53rd Avenue. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren to signal a traffic stop, but the Silverado accelerated onto Interstate 694 instead.

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The pursuit lasted 13 minutes and covered 18 miles, during which the Silverado traveled above 80 mph and went through multiple stop signs and traffic lights, the complaint says. At the Arden Hills Army Training Site, it smashed through the southern entrance gate, sending the gate flying, then through a second gate, crossed the training site and smashed through the northern entrance gate.

The Silverado then failed to make a turn and drove into a swamp, and the driver fled on foot, the complaint says. After an extended search, officers found the driver and identified him as Burke. The Silverado was confirmed to belong to him, and a passenger in the vehicle stated she knew him as “Doug.” The cost to repair the gates is believed to be at least $20,000, according to the complaint.

During a Mirandized interview, Burke said he had used methamphetamine that day. When asked about the incident, he said, “It’s on video, isn’t it?” and declined to make any further statement. He is scheduled to appear in Ramsey County District Court on November 17, 2026. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison for the first-degree damage to property charge.

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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; Ramsey County Community Corrections operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.