Police: Driver Crashes Into St. Paul Restaurant, Triggers Gas Leak, Attacks Several People
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Police say a driver caused a gas leak after he crashed an SUV into a St. Paul restaurant, and then attacked several people Thursday afternoon.
Police say it happened just before 12:30 p.m. at Los Ocampo restaurant off of University Avenue and Dale Street. The driver had been recklessly operating a Toyota RAV4 before the crash. He careened into the restaurant, got out of the car and then fought with people who were trying to help him.
The 23-year-old man then ran into the street and opened the door of a car that had stopped on Dale Street and punched the driver in the face several times. He then pulled out a knife and threatened the driver.
We have officers at University and Dale, where a vehicle crashed into Los Ocampo. The driver is being treated at Regions for injuries not believed to be life-threatening.@StPaulFireDept is working to stop a gas leak.
— Saint Paul Police Department (@sppdmn) December 3, 2020
Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/P0Xc56mg3L
Officers arrived and took the man into custody. Police say he exhibited signs of impairment. He was taken to Regions Hospital, and will be arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and gross misdemeanor DWI due to prior DWI convictions.
Los Ocampo was evacuated due to the gas leak. Street traffic and the METRO Green Line train were shut down for a couple hours. Police say the driver who was attacked by the suspect was the only person injured.
The family that runs Los Ocampo were also impacted by the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd in late May. Their restaurant on Lake Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis sustained major damage from looters.
Here's the route the vehicle took into Los Ocampo... pic.twitter.com/33aRwbTi6h
— Saint Paul Police Department (@sppdmn) December 3, 2020