BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — If you're going to try and outrun law enforcement, which is a bad idea to begin with, a moped scooter is probably not your best bet.
That did not detour a lawbreaking gent in the north metro Tuesday morning, as he tried to evade authorities in an event that was decidedly slow-speed.
Minneapolis Police said the incident started when officers saw the rider, identified as an 18-year-old from Minneapolis, driving the moped without license plates. The department said officers believed the young man was "a suspect wanted in connection with other crimes," and attempted to stop him from getting onto I-94 at the Dowling onramp.
At that point, the moped operator fled from police, though MPD said officers did not pursue him. Instead, they notified the Minnesota State Patrol to have troopers keep an eye out for the scooter rider.
MnDOT cameras picked up the suspect as he rode the scooter against eastbound traffic on Interstate 94 near 57th Ave, weaving in and out of the traffic lanes and forcing traffic to swerve or stop. He drove way up on a grassy hill alongside the interstate, then down into traffic again.
Cameras then picked him up on I-94 at I-694, still riding against traffic but staying mostly on the shoulder. He rode the wrong way up a ramp from Highway 252 and got back on I-94/694, but this time with Minnesota State Patrol squads in slow-speed pursuit.
The rider finally ended up driving off a ramp into the grass and then bailing from the scooter, running onto the freeway and jumping on a utility trailer being pulled by a pickup. Troopers pulled the truck over a short time later and the suspect was taken into custody on multiple warrants, fleeing from police and moped theft.
Police said the moped used in the wrong way, slow-speed pursuit was confirmed to be stolen.
Court documents show the 18-year-old has an extensive criminal history, which includes multiple incidents involving vehicle theft, fleeing police and drug possession.
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