Two men face felony charges after high-speed chases

Residents of two western suburbs have been charged with fleeing Eden Prairie police in separate incidents from late May and early June.

Car rolls multiple times after hitting 120 mph

A 19-year-old Maple Grove man, Kaleb Elliott Smith, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with fleeing a police officer in a high-speed incident May 24 on Highway 212 in Eden Prairie.

According to the charging document:

At 7:28 p.m. May 24, an Eden Prairie police officer westbound on Highway 212 saw a yellow Ford hatchback traveling east on Highway 212 at Mitchell Road at about 120 mph.

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Another officer in the area saw the same vehicle traveling east on Highway 212 under Prairie Center Drive. The officer saw the vehicle change lanes without using a turn signal and then accelerate, weaving across two more lanes of traffic among other vehicles on the highway as it approached Interstate 494.

The officer activated his emergency lights and siren, and the driver accelerated and failed to stop. The officer pursued the vehicle until the driver lost control after hitting stop sticks deployed at eastbound Highway 212 under Shady Oak Road.

The vehicle swerved as the driver tried to miss the sticks, lost control and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Officers removed the driver from the vehicle through the driver’s side window. He was identified as Smith and was arrested. Paramedics then took him to Hennepin County Medical Center. No other occupants were in the vehicle.

Smith was released from custody on May 30.

Motorcyclist charged after going 100 mph during chase

A 33-year-old Hopkins man, Jisoo Kim, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with fleeing an Eden Prairie police officer at more than 100 mph.

According to the charging document:

At about 9 p.m. June 1, an Eden Prairie officer traveling east on Highway 212 near Prairie Center Drive observed a motorcycle traveling at high speed in a 60 mph zone. He observed the vehicle rapidly passing cars and recorded a speed of 82 mph on his radar.

The motorcyclist slowed as the police car approached, but then sped off as the squad car moved in behind the motorcycle.

The officer turned on his siren and pursued the motorcycle. The motorcyclist continued to accelerate to over 100 mph, drove around traffic, and continued to flee. He exited Tracy Avenue in Edina from eastbound Highway 62 and was slowing down at the intersection when the rider lost control of the motorcycle, hit a guard rail, and flipped.

Kim was identified as the driver. He was arrested and taken to Hennepin County Jail. He was released from custody on June 4.

Fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle is a felony. If convicted, Smith and Kim could each receive a prison sentence of up to three years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.