‘Crazy fast’ ICE chase in St. Paul ends with multi-vehicle crash, fleeing driver injured

A high-speed car chase in St. Paul on Feb. 11 involving a federal immigration enforcement agent ended with a multi-vehicle crash and injuries to the fleeing driver, who was taken away in an ambulance as a crowd looked on.

The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. at the largely residential intersection of Selby and Western avenues in the Cathedral Hill area of the city.

“The person that was being pursued sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by St. Paul fire medics,” a statement from St. Paul police read.

Assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin released a statement that said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were attempting “a targeted vehicle stop” of a man from Honduras who was suspected of being in the country illegally when the chase began.

“In a dangerous attempt to resist arrest, this illegal alien tried to evade law enforcement and began driving recklessly and ran red lights, endangering public safety and law enforcement,” McLaughlin continued. “[The man] crashed his vehicle into multiple vehicles and [an] ICE law enforcement vehicle.”

McLaughlin’s statement included the man’s name but did not say whether he was being pursued for anything more than being a suspected undocumented immigrant. The statement did not provide the man’s age or city of residence.

Court records show no charges filed against the man in connection with the incident as of late afternoon Feb. 11. The Minnesota Star Tribune generally does not identify people before they are charged.

Brandon Reader told the Minnesota Star Tribune he had just dropped off his son at school and parked on Western, intending to walk over to a coffee shop.

Before he could get out of his vehicle, Reader said, “I saw this Prius come barreling down the road crazy fast [southbound on Western].”

Reader said a vehicle, with sirens blaring and lights flashing, was less than a car length behind.

The Prius driver ran a stop sign and collided with a car appearing to turn into his path, the witness said. The Prius then spun a half-turn and hit a minivan before striking an icy mound of snow, going airborne and landing on the other side of the wintry mass, Reader said.

The pursuing vehicle stopped behind the Prius, and an officer in federal-agent clothing and gear got out, said Reader, who added that the agent appeared to be alone at the time.

He said many more federal agents arrived, as did numerous St. Paul police officers.

An ambulance showed up about 20 minutes after the crash, and the Prius driver was put on a gurney and driven away, Reader said.

Star Tribune photographer Leila Navidi said most of the man’s body was covered with a sheet and a towel was draped over his face.

“There were a least 100 people on scene blowing whistles, yelling at agents,” Navidi said. She said the agents eventually left, and the intersection was back to normal by 11 a.m.

Andrew Karre heard about the crash, grabbed his “peaceful observer” vest and whistle and drove about a mile from his home to the scene.

ICE had been an occasional presence around nearby restaurants, one neighbor who asked not to be identified said, but she said she had never seen someone detained.

Witnesses were also surprised to see the multi-car crash cleaned up within minutes.

“It was almost immediate,” said Joey Falgren, who heard the crash from his nearby apartment. “I’ve never seen tow trucks come to a scene so fast.”

In a statement, St. Paul mayor Kaohly Her said the crash “underscores the fact that ICE is still present, causing chaos, and putting residents at risk in Saint Paul.” She thanked residents for keeping watch and St. Paul police for staying on scene for cleanup.

“Because of the reckless way that ICE is running their operation, one person ended up in the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and several bystanders had their cars damaged,” the statement said. “This is just another incident that tells us loud and clear: Operation Metro Surge needs to end immediately.”

“The Hispanic guy driving was in front of me on the highway, and the [agents] came flying past,” he said.

After Nunn got to the shop where he works, AA Drive Line Specialties, videos show that three federal agent vehicles boxed in the SUV in a grassy area across the street. The agents, including at least one wearing an ICE vest, then pulled out the man and a female passenger who also was Latino, Nunn said.

Workers reported seeing agents pin the man against the car as they handcuffed him and searched his car. Less than two minutes later, they uncuffed him and let the man and woman go.