A South St. Paul man is facing multiple charges after a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle in Eden Prairie on Aug. 22, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.
The defendant, Abdinajib Muhumed Mohamed, 24, has been charged with two felonies: fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for driving while under the influence of Schedule I and II drugs.
The incident began at about 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 22 when an Eden Prairie police officer spotted a dark-colored SUV on Flying Cloud Drive near Pioneer Trail. After running the vehicle’s license plate, the officer discovered that the SUV had been reported stolen from St. Cloud the previous day.
When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the SUV briefly halted in a Speedway parking lot, where a male passenger exited. The driver, later identified as Mohamed, then sped away, prompting a pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 70 to 85 mph.
The chase ended when police employed a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT maneuver, which involves making tactical contact with the fleeing vehicle to cause it to lose control and stop. The SUV was brought to a halt near Pioneer Trail and Settlement Drive, where Mohamed was taken into custody.
Officers later confirmed that the vehicle Mohamed was driving had indeed been reported stolen from St. Cloud the previous day.
During his arrest, Mohamed reportedly admitted to smoking a mixture of cocaine and methamphetamine about 30 minutes before the pursuit. Authorities later obtained a blood sample, which they believe will confirm the presence of these controlled substances.
(Schedule I and II drugs are classified by the federal government based on their potential for abuse, with Schedule I drugs like heroin having no accepted medical use, while Schedule II drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine, have a high potential for abuse but are used medically under strict regulation, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.)
Court records show Mohamed was wanted on warrants from both Sherburne County and the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the time of his arrest. He is being held without bail for those warrants.
For the charges stemming from the Aug. 22 incident in Eden Prairie, the court has set bail options at $10,000 with conditions or $30,000 without conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 18.
If convicted on charges stemming from the Aug. 22 incident, Mohamed could face up to eight years in prison and fines totaling $16,000.
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