Police Pursuit Ends in Arrest on I-35W Following Standoff
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA—A hit-and-run suspect was taken into custody Thursday afternoon following a high-speed pursuit and standoff on Interstate 35W, which ended after law enforcement deployed chemical agents to subdue the driver.
According to the Bloomington Police Department, the incident began around 1:50 p.m. on Thursday, November 28, 2024, when officers responded to a report of a vehicle that had collided with two parked cars and fled the scene. Officers located the vehicle traveling southbound on I-35 near 106th Street in Bloomington. Despite attempts to stop the car, the driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit that reached speeds of 107 mph.
At one point, police lost sight of the vehicle, but it was later rediscovered going southbound on I-35 near 205th Street near Lakeville, Minnesota. According to scanner traffic, dispatchers were in contact with the driver, who appeared impaired. According to Bloomington officials, the suspect’s erratic driving included intentionally swerving at other vehicles, creating significant danger for other motorists.
Officers briefly lost sight of the suspect vehicle, which was found once again going northbound on I-35 in far northern Scott County. As the pursuit continued northbound on I-35W toward Bloomington, law enforcement deployed stop sticks and attempted a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver to disable the vehicle. Although these efforts slowed the car, the driver remained non-compliant. Officers successfully boxed in the vehicle near 106th Street in Bloomington, but the driver ignored commands to exit the car.
Law enforcement deployed multiple rounds of pepper balls into the car, as a mutual aid K9 unit, SWAT officers, and a BearCat armored vehicle were also brought in due to concerns the suspect could be armed. The suspect, however, continued to rev the engine and attempted to ram police vehicles, further heightening the tension. After deploying chemical agents into the vehicle, officers were able to take the suspect into custody without further incident. Medics, who had been staged nearby, were cleared to assess the individual at the scene.
The incident caused significant traffic delays in the area as authorities temporarily shut down portions of I-35W to ensure public safety. Two lanes of northbound I-35W were reopened for traffic to go northbound around 3:50 PM.
No injuries to officers or bystanders were reported by law enforcement. Police have not yet released the identity of the driver, but they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the hit-and-run and the suspect’s actions during the pursuit. We will provide further updates as more information is made available.
Written by: Will Wight