1 dead, others injured in St. Paul crash involving Ramsey County deputy, state patrol says

One person is dead and others are injured in a crash early Wednesday involving a Ramsey County Sheriff's Office squad car in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Minnesota State Patrol says St. Paul police officers spotted a stolen car late Tuesday night near Metro State University, off Seventh Street East and Maria Avenue in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood.

About a mile and a half southwest, the state patrol says a deputy "with emergency lights and sirens activated to assist with the incident," crashed into a vehicle in downtown by Regions Hospital off Robert Street and 12th Street East.  

The driver, 51-year-old Tha Wah of St. Paul, was pronounced dead at Regions, and a 44-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries. A 4-year-old passenger is expected to survive.

The state patrol says the driver of the squad car is 35-year-old John Gleason. A sheriff's office spokesperson says a 19-year-old was also in the squad as part of a ride along. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Officers followed the stolen vehicle for miles and attempted a traffic stop near Interstate 94 and Highway 280, leading to the motorist fleeing westbound on the interstate.

The state patrol says one of its troopers eventually stopped the motorist, a 27-year-old man, via the PIT maneuver. He is in custody at the Ramsey County Jail. 

"[The motorist] has a history of charges, including a recent count of possession of a pistol without a permit on February 23, 2026," the state patrol said.

The state patrol is still investigating the deadly crash.