Updated: 20h20
A car theft suspect died and a police dog was wounded by gunfire after a Sunday afternoon chase on Minnesota 65 highway north of Twin Cities.
The chase began with a stealth call to a company in the town of Blaine at around 1 pm.
Blaine’s police chief, Brian Podany, speaking at a press conference broadcast by KARE 11 earlier in the evening, said police officers located two suspects in a stolen vehicle. The suspects then stole a second vehicle at gunpoint before heading north on the highway.
“Due to the seriousness of the crimes, the police chased the vehicle north on Highway 65,” said Podany, with the chase extending some 40 miles north, near Braham, in Isanti County.
Podany said the suspect’s vehicle was disabled and two men fled on foot.
The two suspects and the police exchanged fire. One of the suspects was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was arrested. The authorities have not released any information about their identities.
In a press release late on Sunday, the Isanti county sheriff’s office said a gun was found at the scene.
A police dog from the Anoka Police Department was shot and subjected to surgery. It appears that “he will survive the gunshot wound,” the sheriff’s office said Sunday night.
Podany also said that a police officer was hospitalized after the initial meeting with the suspects in Blaine, with what was initially reported as minor injuries.
The Minnesota Criminal Seizure Department is investigating the shooting.
“This is an evolving situation that involves multiple jurisdictions with multiple crime scenes,” said the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office.
At least nine law enforcement agencies were involved in the persecution or its aftermath.
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