Suspected Thieves Charged After Mounds View Crash, Foot Chase
BY MN CRIME STAFF
Charges have been filed after a Christmas Eve crash and foot chase in Mounds View led officers to freshly cut catalytic converters and a cache of theft tools.
Christ Hae, 24, of Saint Paul, and Han Do Wah, 19, of Woodbury, are each charged with felony possession of burglary or theft tools for the string of events that ended early Wednesday morning.
The investigation began earlier on Tuesday, Dec. 23, when Maplewood police responded late in the morning to a report of a catalytic converter theft at a home. A man told officers he had seen three unknown men wearing masks and gloves remove the catalytic converter from his neighbor’s vehicle about an hour earlier. He reported the men arrived in a silver Acura and provided photos to police. Officers later confirmed with the neighbor that the catalytic converter had been stolen.
Several hours later, around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, Mounds View police spotted a silver Acura parked in the lot of an apartment complex at 2670 Scotland Court. Officers observed two people inside the vehicle, the court documents say, and the Acura pulled into a parking stall facing the building. It was boxed in by parked vehicles on both sides and officers pulled in behind it with emergency lights activated.
According to the complaint, the driver began repeatedly backing up and pulling forward in an apparent attempt to get away. The driver eventually backed hard into a parked vehicle, causing significant damage. Both occupants then ran from the vehicle. Police say the Acura had been left in drive and rolled forward, striking a second parked vehicle.
Officers pursued both occupants on foot. One was detained and identified as Wah and the second was later located hiding underneath a vehicle, identified as Hae. Neither man was the registered owner of the Acura, according to the complaint.
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The Acura was towed from the scene and searched as part of an inventory. Inside, officers located two catalytic converters that appeared to have been freshly cut. Police also recovered a power saw with multiple replacement blades, several power drills, a floor jack, rubber gloves, insulated gloves and a face mask. Wah’s keys and phone were found in the passenger-side door pocket.
Both Wah and Hae declined to make statements to investigators, according to the complaint. The felony possession charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both.
Court records show Hae has an extensive criminal history in Ramsey County, including multiple felony convictions: for theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree assault involving a dangerous weapon and threats of violence. His record also includes multiple weapons-related convictions at the gross misdemeanor level.
The charging documents note the catalytic converter theft reported earlier in Maplewood and the attempt to flee from officers in Mounds View remain under investigation. Prosecutors say additional charges may be filed as the case continues.
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