State troopers pursued a speeder off an interstate into a north Minneapolis neighborhood for several minutes Monday, chasing him through nearly two dozen stop signs before the full-size SUV veered onto a playground and hit three children.
Details of the pursuit, which took place primarily on residential streets and at high speeds, were spelled out in charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court against the unlicensed motorist and prompted County Attorney Mike Freeman to question the wisdom of the chase.
"Residential streets just aren't made for people driving 80 mph," he said. While "it's always easy for those of us to second guess," he added, law enforcement policies on pursuits "should discourage that kind of conduct except in the most extreme cases in residential neighborhoods. People's lives, like these kids' lives, are a lot more important than catching this guy, in my view."
Kabaar W. Powell, 27, of Richfield, was charged with felony fleeing police resulting in great bodily harm, and gross-misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation and carrying a gun in public without a permit in the crash near Jenny Lind Elementary School. He remains jailed and is scheduled back in court Thursday.
Kayden Peltier, 2, and Lillianna Peltier, 4, were severely injured, while Konnor Peltier, 3, was less seriously hurt. North Memorial Medical Center has said that it will not release information about their conditions.
Freeman said Wednesday that Powell was driving the same Ford Expedition on Friday when the patrol pursued him for speeding on I-94 in Minneapolis. The trooper ended the chase after losing sight of the SUV after it ran several stop signs.
Both pursuits began in the 9 a.m. hour and in similar locations of the freeway.
Monday's chase began when troopers spotted Powell speeding, the patrol has said. It lasted roughly 6 minutes with two patrol squads and the SUV topping 80 miles per hour, according to the criminal complaint against Powell.