High-Risk Vehicle Stop in Apple Valley Resolved After Stolen Report Error
Published: December 14, 2025.
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - An incident that initially appeared to involve a suspected stolen vehicle prompted a multi-agency law enforcement response Saturday afternoon before authorities determined the situation stemmed from a reporting error tied to a recent vehicle sale.
Just after 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, officers with the Eagan Police Department began following a vehicle believed at the time to be stolen. The vehicle traveled southbound on Cedar Avenue from Eagan into neighboring Apple Valley, where additional assistance was requested as a precaution.
The Apple Valley Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minnesota State Air Patrol provided mutual aid. Law enforcement ultimately conducted a high-risk stop near the intersection of 157th Street West and Gladstone Path in Apple Valley. At least three people were detained from the vehicle during the stop.
Officers at the scene indicated that their preliminary investigation suggested the situation may not have involved a stolen vehicle. According to law enforcement, the vehicle had recently been sold, raising questions about the accuracy of the vehicle's reported stolen status.
Clarification on Police Actions
To clarify, there was no pursuit or active chase during the incident. Officers followed the vehicle at normal speeds and coordinated support in case it attempted to flee, as has occurred in similar situations.
As part of that precautionary response, an Eagan Police squad equipped with a Grappler system, a device designed to stop fleeing vehicles safely, was called to the scene in case the vehicle attempted to flee. Officers did not initiate a traffic stop until the vehicle reached the Apple Valley area, where it voluntarily pulled over. Emergency lights were not activated until that point, and no pursuit took place.
Update From Vehicle Owner
In an update at approximately 5:55 p.m., the vehicle's owner addressed the incident publicly in a comment on a post we did on our Facebook page, stating that the vehicle was not stolen and that they had recently purchased it from a private seller. According to the owner, the previous owner reported the vehicle stolen after it was repossessed for missed payments, and the stolen status was never removed from law enforcement databases. The owner stated that St. Paul police had not cleared the stolen entry, which had been weeks after the repossession, leading to Saturday’s misunderstanding.
No injuries were reported, and no charges related to vehicle theft were announced as of Saturday evening.
Law enforcement agencies involved continue to review the incident and work to ensure vehicle records are accurate to prevent similar situations in the future.
Written by: Will Wight
