RCSO Squad Struck by Driver in Stolen Jeep, Deputy Injured
A photo shared by the Ramsey County Deputy's Federation shows the charred shell of a deputy's squad car after it was struck broadside by a driver fleeing in a stolen vehicle March 17 in Arden Hills.
ARDEN HILLS: A photo shared by the Ramsey County Deputys’ Federation shows the charred shell of a deputy's squad vehicle after it was struck broadside by a driver fleeing in a stolen Jeep late Wednesday, March 17, in Arden Hills.
According to the federation, the deputy whose vehicle was struck suffered a broken knee cap, broken toe, possible head injury, fractured ribs and a bruised lung but he’s expected to be OK.
It started shortly before 10 p.m. when the deputy was assisting another agency in the area after the previously stolen Jeep was spotted at a gas station. The driver fled at a high rate of speed before crashing near Hwy. 10 & Hwy. 96 W.
In emergency dispatch audio from the incident, the officer asked for medics and firefighters to respond for one occupant of the Jeep who needed extrication out of the wreck but was later determined to be uninjured.
Witnesses told investigators the squad's lights and sirens were on.
The federation said the suspect driving the stolen Jeep is a repeat offender who had an active felony warrant. In a Facebook post, the federation said “the systematic failures of the criminal justice system are not the failures of police who continue to arrest the criminals. The failures are a direct result of our elected officials refusal to hold criminals accountable for their actions.”