CHARGES: 18-Year-Old Armed Robbery Suspect Rammed MPD Squad Car
BY MN CRIME STAFF
An 18-year-old is charged after authorities say he rammed a squad car and fled police while carrying a handgun without a permit in north Minneapolis.
The incident unfolded around noon on Jan. 26 after Minneapolis police were notified that a suspect tied to an aggravated robbery involving a gun was moving near 42nd Avenue North & Fremont Avenue North.
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Officers spotted the vehicle and identified the driver as Kevin Terell Caples, of Brooklyn Park. Police followed Caples to a business parking lot in the 4100 block of Lyndale Avenue North and moved in to arrest him.
Caples was wanted in connection with a Dec. 1 aggravated robbery in north Minneapolis where investigators say two suspects attacked a man in a parking lot behind an apartment building, struck him with a handgun and kicked him in the face before stealing his backpack. The victim stated he had $1,000 in cash, a wallet and a small amount of cannabis in the backpack. A witness reported hearing a gunshot as the suspects fled, though officers did not find any shell casings at the scene.
Surveillance footage later showed a blue Lincoln leaving the area immediately after the robbery. Investigators learned the vehicle had recently been sold to Caples and later identified him as a suspect after tracking the car and observing him wearing clothing consistent with one of the suspects.
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According to the criminal complaint, officers positioned their squad cars to block Caples’ vehicle and activated their emergency lights. Officers then identified themselves and told him he was under arrest. Prosecutors say Caples immediately started the vehicle and attempted to flee by backing into a squad car positioned behind him.
Officers drew their weapons and continued issuing commands as they moved closer, citing concerns for officer and public safety. Caples allegedly ignored those commands, refused to show his hands and appeared to be reaching toward his waistband, leading officers to believe he may have been accessing a firearm.
An officer secured Caples’ wrists to prevent him from reaching for a weapon, and a brief struggle followed as multiple officers worked to remove him from the vehicle.
As Caples was pulled from the car, a silver handgun reportedly fell from his waistband onto the ground. The firearm was immediately secured, and Caples was taken into custody. Investigators state Caples does not have a permit to carry a firearm.
Caples is charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony punishable by up to three years and one day in prison. He is also charged with carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit in a public place, a gross misdemeanor. Caples is also charged with first-degree aggravated robbery for the December incident, a felony where he faces up to 20 years in prison. He made an initial court appearance on all three charges last week, with bail set at $25,000 with conditions including no contact with the victim, electronic monitoring and to remain law-abiding.
