A driver was killed and his passenger injured after crashing his car in Anoka while fleeing an attempted traffic stop in Coon Rapids, the Anoka County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
Driver in car fleeing traffic stop is killed, his passenger injured in crash in Anoka
The Sheriff's Office initially said that both people in the fleeing car had died.
May 20, 2022 at 11:05PM
The crash involving the car and a pickup truck occurred Tuesday shortly before midnight on Main Street near Ferry Street, the Sheriff's Office said. The pickup driver was slightly hurt.
The Sheriff's Office earlier Wednesday said that both people in the car had died, then issued a corrected news release in the afternoon.
The driver was identified as Brian E. Harper, 30, of St. Paul. Hospitalized with unspecified injuries was Jermain R. Beasley, 32, of St. Cloud, the Sheriff's Office said. Beasley was in serious condition at Mercy Hospital as of late Wednesday afternoon.
Late Friday afternoon, the Sheriff's Office released a nearly 8-minute video combining squad and street camera footage and showing the actions of officers in connection with the driver fleeing and crashing.
According to the Sheriff's Office:
Police in Coon Rapids attempted to make a traffic stop about 11:35 p.m. on NW. Hanson Boulevard near NW. Gateway Drive. Harper drove off, and the police squad pursued.
"Coon Rapids officers completely disengaged, and the pursuit ended once the car crossed into Anoka, a Sheriff's Office statement read.
The crash occurred about a mile away. Harper was dead at the scene, and Beasley was taken by emergency medical responders to the hospital.
The pilot was the only person inside the plane, and was not injured in the emergency landing, according to the State Patrol.
