Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) – A St. Paul man has been handed a prison sentence for a wild high-speed police chase in Rochester last year.
According to Olmsted County Court records, the pursuit began after the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest 46-year-old Jaden Lashaun Townsend on multiple warrants out of Ramsey County. The court documents also state that Townsend had previously fled from Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies.
Sheriff’s Deputies Tried to Arrest Suspect on Warrants
The criminal complaint says Townsend was located at a hotel in northwest Rochester on November 22 and was observed walking toward an SUV in the parking lot. After Townsend got into the driver’s seat, a law enforcement vehicle pulled up behind the SUV, which was parked against the curb.
Townsend allegedly responded by ramming the squad car in reverse and speeding out of the parking lot. The pursuit continued onto West Circle Drive and 41st Street Northwest, where the complaint says Townsend crossed into oncoming traffic and was seen swerving toward vehicles. Deputies then shut off their emergency lights and sirens due to the “dangerous fleeing.”
SUV Crashed After Dangerous Wrong-Way Driving
According to the court documents, Townsend continued driving in the wrong direction on West Circle Drive before switching back to the correct lanes near the 55th Street and Highway 52 interchange. The SUV then crashed into another vehicle on the highway ramp. Townsend tried to drive away, but a deputy rammed his squad car into the driver’s side of the SUV, which was also struck from behind by another law enforcement vehicle.
The criminal complaint says the SUV continued in reverse into a ditch, crashing through a fence before coming to a stop. Townsend was then taken into custody, and according to court records, he told deputies that he had swallowed heroin. No injuries were reported.
Townsend Gets 20-Month Prison Sentence
Townsend was charged with a single felony count of fleeing police and entered a guilty plea earlier this year. At his sentencing hearing today, Townsend requested an executed sentence and was ordered to serve a 20-month prison term. He was given credit for the 244 days he has already spent in jail since his arrest.
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Court records indicate his criminal history includes multiple felony convictions for terroristic threats, check forgery, and identity theft. He was recently handed a 40 month prison sentence for a identity theft conviction in Ramsey County…