Apple Valley Man Facing Two Felony Charges Following Pursuit that Ended in Eagan
Published: March 18, 2026
UPDATE - March 20, 2026, at 1 pm: A man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle and leading officers on a pursuit that ended near Interstate 35E earlier this week.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, Avion Lee Hamer, 23, has been charged with one count of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and one count of felony receiving stolen property involving a motor vehicle.
Incident Details
The charges stem from an incident on the evening of March 18, 2026, around 7 pm, when an Apple Valley police officer on routine patrol observed a black SUV traveling without a rear license plate near Cedar Avenue and 140th Street West. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating emergency lights, but the vehicle did not pull over. Instead, the SUV continued at a high rate of speed. Even after the officer activated a siren, the driver failed to yield, at times slowing down but continuing to drive.
Authorities say the vehicle proceeded northbound on Cedar Avenue toward Interstate 35E, where the driver allegedly continued to evade police and failed to maintain a single lane, traveling between lanes. The situation escalated when the SUV entered the ramp from I-35E to Cliff Road against the flow of traffic, according to the complaint.
After stopping on the ramp, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot toward the Blackhawk Park & Ride and Blackhawk Road. Investigators say the vehicle had not been placed in park and began rolling backward toward the pursuing squad car, requiring the officer to intervene and stop it.
Officers apprehended the suspect approximately 15 minutes later, around 7:15 p.m., near Bleecher Drive and Walnut Lane, and identified him as Hamer.
According to the complaint, Hamer allegedly made statements to law enforcement admitting he fled from officers because the vehicle he was driving was stolen and contained drugs. Authorities later confirmed through dispatch that the SUV had been reported stolen.
Charges and Bail
Hamer is now facing:
Felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle
Felony receiving stolen property (motor vehicle valued under $1,000)
Court records show that prosecutors initially requested bail of $20,000 without conditions or $15,000 with conditions. However, the court ultimately set bail at:
$30,000 without conditions, or
$0 with conditions (conditional release)
As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Provided by Dakota County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY - APPLE VALLEY & EAGAN, MINNESOTA: An alleged pursuit Wednesday evening ended with at least one suspect in custody after a brief foot chase in Eagan, Minnesota.
According to initial information, officers with the Apple Valley Police Department allegedly had a vehicle flee them just after 7:00 p.m. on March 18, 2026, for reasons that have not yet been released. The vehicle ultimately came to a stop on the northbound Cliff Road ramp to I-35E. The suspect then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, running east through the Blackhawk Park & Ride area.
Officers quickly established a perimeter and began searching the area. The suspect was located and taken into custody approximately 15 minutes later, around 7:15 p.m., near Bleecher Drive and Walnut Lane.
During the incident, the northbound on-ramp from Cliff Road to I-35E was temporarily closed as officers secured the scene, searched the vehicle, and conducted their investigation. At the scene, a dark gray small SUV was observed facing the wrong way on the northbound ramp, indicating the abrupt end of the pursuit.
Authorities have not yet released the suspect's identity or additional details regarding potential charges. The investigation remains ongoing.
Rough location where the incident occurred in Eagan, Minnesota.
Written by: Will Wight
