A man who fled a traffic stop in Maple Grove at more than 130 miles per hour crashed his SUV and was found with a .22-caliber round in his pocket after allegedly threatening another man with a gun, according to the complaint.
Anthony John Tavarez, 30, faces four felony charges: possessing a firearm or ammunition after a conviction for a crime of violence, driving while intoxicated, threats of violence and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. The charges were filed October 16 in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers were dispatched at about 1:00 a.m. on October 15 to a report of an unwanted person with a firearm. Officers learned the unwanted person, later identified as Tavarez, was driving a grey Lincoln SUV. While responding, officers saw a vehicle matching that description and attempted a traffic stop in Maple Grove.
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Officers activated their emergency lights and siren and used the PA system to order Tavarez to turn off the vehicle, but he did not pull over. Instead, Tavarez fled at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour before crashing the SUV into a ditch. Officers saw Tavarez walking away from the crashed vehicle and arrested him. He was the only person in the car.
While placing Tavarez under arrest, officers observed signs of alcohol intoxication, including slurred speech, watery eyes, lack of balance and poor driving. They also saw an open alcohol container in the vehicle. During a search incident to arrest, officers found a .22-caliber round in Tavarez’s pocket.
Officers obtained a warrant for Tavarez’s blood and urine. He agreed to a blood draw and was taken to the hospital. While waiting, Tavarez urinated on the hospital floor and got urine on a nurse. At the hospital, Tavarez told officers he had been driving 140 miles per hour and said he had the same gun as the officer.
Because a firearm was reported in the original call, officers retraced the pursuit route along Bass Lake Road and Interstate 494. They found an SR 22 firearm on the right shoulder of the road. The caliber of the bullet found in Tavarez’s pocket matched the firearm recovered along the pursuit route.
Officers also spoke with the victim, who said he and Tavarez got into an argument at his home that evening. During the argument, Tavarez went to his Lincoln, retrieved a firearm and pointed it directly at the victim, who said he was scared Tavarez might kill him. The victim went inside, locked the door and called 911.
During a post-Miranda statement, Tavarez told officers he fled because he was scared of being arrested since he was intoxicated and on parole. He also stated he was aware his license was canceled for public safety reasons. The results of the blood draw are pending.
According to the complaint, Tavarez has three prior impaired-driving incidents within the last 10 years, including a felony DWI refusal.
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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 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
