Eden Prairie Police Pursuit Ends in PIT Maneuver in Bloomington, One in Custody
BLOOMINGTON/EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA - According to the Eden Prairie Police Department, around 5:30 PM on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, a silver Chevrolet Malibu was left running in front of a business in the 8000 block of Glen Lane in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and was stolen.
Witnesses reported to police that an adult male was dropped off by someone driving a black sedan. Eden Prairie Police quickly located the back sedan, which had been reported stolen the day before, Monday, February 12th, from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but they fled police on eastbound I-494 at around 5:40 PM on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
While traveling eastbound on I-494, the suspect could be seen on Minnesota Department of Transportation cameras passing vehicles at a high rate of speed on the left shoulder before eventually exiting I-494 at France Avenue. The car then went northbound on France Avenue toward the intersection of West 78th Street.
When the suspect was caught up in the traffic waiting at the stop light at this intersection, law enforcement was able to catch up, and a PIT maneuver was used on the fleeing car in the intersection. This PIT maneuver disabled the car and police were able to surround the vehicle and box him in. Police confirmed that the 43-year-old male car driver was taken into custody without incident. They also confirmed no civilian vehicles were damaged and no injuries occurred due to the pursuit. The 2012 Malibu stolen from Eden Prairie has not yet been found, but they continue to search for it.
The Eden Prairie Police Department states that since this is an open and active investigation, they can't provide any additional details.
The above video shows the car fleeing police eastbound on I-494, cutting through traffic from the far left shoulder to the far right lane before exiting the highway on France Avenue, with the video ending with police performing the PIT maneuver and beginning to box the car in.