On Nov. 2, at 1:30 a.m., Big Lake Officers Tyler Hecht and Tyler Sinclair were dispatched to the area of 204 Ave NW on a report of individuals attempting to enter a vehicle in a driveway. 

When Officer Hecht arrived on the scene, he observed a male running towards, then entering a parked vehicle.  Officer Hecht ran the license place on the vehicle and found it to be stolen from Coon Rapids.  The driver accelerated away at a high rate of speed.  Officer Hecht activated his emergency lighting and siren and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. 

Officer Sinclair also entered the pursuit, and attempted a pursuit intervention technique in the intersection of Ned St. and Truman Dr.  The suspect vehicle spun out, striking the side of Officer Sinclair’s vehicle disabling it, but continued to flee.

Officer Hecht continued pursuing the vehicle, as it traveled north on Co. Rd. 81 at speeds approaching 90 miles per hour.  In the area of Thompson Lake, the underside of the suspect vehicle caught fire.  The driver left the roadway, stopped, and both occupants fled on foot. 

A juvenile male passenger was immediately caught and taken into custody by Officer Hecht.  Members of the Big Lake Fire Department immediately responded and extinguished the fire, they also assisted in looking for the missing driver with their thermal imaging equipment. 

The driver was located walking and was identified as Dashawn Lamont Spicer (Age 18 – Brooklyn Park).  Spicer was charged by criminal complaint with; Felony Fleeing in a Vehicle, Felony Possession of a Stolen Auto, and Fleeing on foot.

During this time, five occupied homes were burglarized in the City of Big Lake.  This criminal group utilizes stolen vehicles to travel to their targets.  They locate vehicles in driveways that are unlocked, obtain a garage door opener, and enter the home through the garage.