Police pursuit after attempted burglary ends in crash in Golden Valley, 2 arrested
Two people from Minneapolis were arrested Thursday morning after what started as a stolen vehicle call in Bloomington turned into a high-speed chase and crash in Golden Valley, police say.
Bloomington police received two calls around 7:20 a.m. — one about a stolen vehicle and another about someone trying to break into a home in the 100 block of 97th Street. Officers spotted the stolen vehicle but the driver did not stop, police say.
According to police, the driver crashed into another car near 98th Street and Lyndale Avenue. He then jumped into a second stolen vehicle, a black SUV.
Police pursued the second vehicle until it crashed and lost control near Interstate 394 and Highway 100 in Golden Valley. Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic cameras captured two people getting out of the SUV and running across the highway. A police officer and a K-9 officer followed them.
Jeffrey Held, who lives in the area, said he heard tires squealing on the highway.
"First we thought it was an accident on the highway because that happens a lot," Held said.
Held said he looked out his window and saw a man swimming in his pond.
"He was doing the backstroke but he was extremely tired by the time he got to the opposite shore there, and the police were waiting for him at that point, so he surrendered," Held said.
The man was taken into custody as soon as he got out of the water. The second suspect was found with the help of a K-9, police say.
Held said he opened his garage and shed so officers could search them.
The suspects — a 27-year-old man and a 20-year-old man, both from Minneapolis — were taken into custody. They were transported to the hospital to treat injuries they sustained while running from police, officials say.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said both men have a history of motor vehicle theft, fleeing police and burglary related crimes.
"You cannot allow these people to get out and continue to commit these crimes in our neighborhoods and our communities," Hodges said. "You don't come into our community, steal people's cars, try to break into someone's house and think we're not going to catch you and lock you up."
The incident is under investigation.
"Don't come to Bloomington and commit crimes. I want to thank our officers, Edina PD, Minnesota State Patrol and everyone else that helped with this," Hodges added.
No one has been charged.