Man Charged In Stolen Car Chase That Broke Man's Legs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 19-year-old man is charged with five felonies after being accused of driving a stolen vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase and causing an accident that injured another man.
According to the criminal complaint, Mahdi Patton, of Minneapolis, was spotted driving south on 12th Avenue, approaching East 26th Street without his headlights on. Police pursued the vehicle and discovered the car had been stolen.
When the officer activated his emergency lights, Patton allegedly sped up and refused to stop. The officer continued to follow Patton, and called for back-up.
The vehicle blew through a stop sign at a high rate of speed at the intersection of 42nd Street and 13th Avenue South and T-boned a vehicle that had the right of way.
Police say the impact from the collision caused the other vehicle to flip twice, before finally coming to rest several houses away from the scene.
That vehicle also hit two other vehicles after flipping, causing damage. After hitting another vehicle, Patton ran his vehicle into a home at 4204 13th Ave. S. The officer saw Patton leave the car and flee on foot.
With the help of canine dogs, officers were able to locate Patton in a yard and identify him as the driver.
The driver of the vehicle that was T-boned was taken to the hospital with fractures in both legs and injuries that required surgery.
Patton admitted to police that he was driving a stolen vehicle and said he had been smoking marijuana earlier that day. He also admitted intentionally trying to flee police. He told officers he thought the man he hit during the chase was dead.
Upon being told that man is still alive, Patton responded, "I gotta deal with the consequences of what I got myself into."
Patton is currently in custody.
