Northfield Man Faces 6 Charges for Fleeing Police with Loaded Gun
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A 45-year-old man who was already on probation for a felony conviction with conditions barring him from possessing firearms is facing six charges after leading Northfield police on a chase last week with a loaded handgun, a switchblade knife and about 130 rounds of ammunition in his pickup.
Travis Edwin Namanny, of Northfield, was charged in Rice County District Court with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, gross misdemeanor possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, obstructing legal process, possession of a switchblade knife, possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle and violation of the open bottle law, according to the criminal complaint.
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Around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, an officer on patrol near North Division Street across from the Carleton College steam plant spotted a pickup driving eastbound and passing two other vehicles recklessly. The vehicles that were passed pulled over to the shoulder, according to the complaint.
The officer pursued the pickup east on Highway 19 and activated emergency lights. The driver ignored the lights and continued, the court documents say. The pickup turned north onto Canada Avenue and eventually came to a stop. The officer exited the squad, drew a weapon and ordered the driver to shut off the pickup and put his hands out the window. The driver ignored all commands and sped off again.
The pursuit continued with lights and sirens north on Canada Avenue, over the Dudley Bridge to Northfield Boulevard, through Waterford and to a stop sign at Highway 3. The driver turned south on Highway 3 back into Northfield, then turned onto Heritage Drive before stopping on Hidden Valley Drive, according to the complaint. It appeared the driver threw something from the vehicle during the chase. Speeds during the pursuit reached about 62 mph in a 45 mph zone and 48 mph in a 40 mph zone. The pursuit covered about 6 miles.
Namanny got out of the pickup but didn't comply with commands and walked around the vehicle. Officers forcibly brought him to the ground. He actively resisted arrest and fought with officers, shouting racial slurs, the complaint states. Officers used a drive stun from a conducted energy device to try to get him under control.
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Namanny was ultimately arrested but continued to resist and threaten officers. He told them, "I'm not going easily!" the complaint states. He was placed in the back of a squad and continued to scream, yell and shake violently. He then complained about a blood clot issue and began smashing his head against the cage. EMS evaluated him and cleared him for jail. He was later brought to the hospital for medical clearance before being booked.
The complaint says Namanny's mother and child were outside at the residence when the confrontation took place.
Officers searched Namanny's pickup and found a silver Ruger P89 9mm handgun in a brown leather holster inside a grey carrying case in the backseat. The gun had a loaded magazine with hollow point ammunition. Officers also found three additional magazines with about 130 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a .177 caliber pellet rifle, a black-handled switchblade knife, a small amount of suspected cannabis in a plastic bag, a glass pipe with residue, an opened Fireball shooter with liquid still inside and an unopened Fireball shooter.
Namanny was convicted of felony obstructing legal process and misdemeanor domestic assault in October 2025. He was placed on probation with Dakota County Community Corrections in January for one year with conditions that included no possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives and to remain law abiding.
He also has three pending cases in Rice and Dakota counties, including charges of carrying a pistol without a permit, obstructing legal process and making a false emergency call filed in February, as well as a DANCO violation. Conditions of release in both of those cases also barred him from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons.
Fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle carries a maximum sentence of three years and one day in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday, an officer on patrol near North Division Street across from the Carleton College steam plant spotted a pickup driving eastbound and passing two other vehicles recklessly.