A 36-year-old Eden Prairie woman is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly fleeing Bloomington police by car and on foot following a reported shoplifting incident Wednesday, July 16.
Alyssa Chevonne Woiak was charged Friday, July 18, in Hennepin County District Court with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and one misdemeanor count of fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle.
According to the criminal complaint, Bloomington police responded at about 11:40 a.m. to a report of shoplifting at a business in the 700 block of East American Boulevard. Officers were told the suspect had left in a vehicle.
A responding officer spotted the vehicle traveling westbound on American Boulevard and attempted a traffic stop using emergency lights and sirens. The driver, later identified as Woiak, initially pulled over but allegedly refused to exit when the officer approached, then drove off.
Police pursued her to the 7300 block of Valley View Road in Eden Prairie, where the vehicle crashed into a hedge, the complaint states. Woiak allegedly crawled out of the front passenger door and fled on foot. Officers gave chase and eventually used a Taser to subdue her before placing her under arrest.
Woiak, who was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on Thursday, July 17, made her first court appearance Monday, July 21, before Judge Lisa K. Janzen. The judge granted her request for a public defender and ordered her conditional release with bail set at $20,000. Conditions include no driving without a valid license, no use of alcohol or controlled substances, and compliance with future court appearances.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. Woiak remained in custody as of 3 p.m. Monday, according to jail records.
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.