Man Facing 9 Charges, Including Using Car As Weapon
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police arrested a man in Itasca County after they say he used his car as a weapon while they were involved in a police chase with him.
Shad Oneil, 33, has been charged with multiple counts including possession of a firearm, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, fleeing a police officer on foot and in a vehicle, and three counts first degree assault. In all, he is facing nine charges.
Officers said Oneil, of Nashwauk, Minn., is a nine-time convicted felon.
On Nov. 8, police said they executed a search warrant at his home. They said they found two loaded handguns and meth, but Oneil fled out the back door.
Then on Nov. 10, a deputy who knew that Oneil was wanted by police, found him driving down county Road 539 going faster than 90 mph.
A chase led to the former home of Oneil's father. The officer found the suspect's vehicle parked and running with its lights on in front of the home. A drug pipe was also found in the vehicle.
More officers arrived and they noticed foot tracks leading from the suspect's car into a garage. Police believed he fled in a different vehicle.
One officer was able to disguise himself as "Mickey" and spoke with Oneil by calling his cell phone. They arranged to meet him in an unmarked police vehicle. While they were approaching the blue truck driven by Oneil, they flipped on the police lights and Oneil turned his vehicle toward them at a high rate of speed. Officers had to swerve into a ditch to avoid Oneil hitting them.
A chase started and other squad cars were called in. Oneil allegedly swerved in front of those cars too. Eventually he pulled down a wooded trail and his truck became hung up on a tree. Oneil jumped out of the truck and fled on foot into the trees and swamp.
Officers were able to located and arrest him after more than a 5 hour search.
His first court appearance was on Monday where bail was set at $500,000.
He is being held at the Itasca County Jail. His next court appearance is Nov. 28.
