Minneapolis Man Sentenced for Stealing Delivery Driver's Vehicle and Leading Apple Valley Police on Pursuit
Published: June 17, 2026
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - A Minneapolis man who stole a pizza delivery driver's vehicle outside an Apple Valley restaurant and then led police on a dangerous pursuit earlier this year has been sentenced after pleading guilty in Dakota County District Court.
Jeremy Allen Roberts Ayala, 33, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2026, to one count of Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle, a felony offense stemming from the February 28 incident outside the Papa John's restaurant on Cedar Avenue. He was sentenced on June 16, 2026.
Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison
According to a Dakota County District Court sentencing order, Roberts Ayala was convicted of felony fleeing police in a motor vehicle and sentenced to 18 months in the custody of the Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections, with placement at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He received 109 days of jail credit for time already served.
Court records show that the original charge of Theft of a Motor Vehicle was dismissed as part of the case resolution, while the fleeing charge resulted in a conviction.
As part of his sentence, Roberts Ayala was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and pay $5,353.42 in restitution, including $4,853.42 to State Farm Insurance and $500 to the victim.
Incident Began at Apple Valley Papa John's
The charges stemmed from an incident just before midnight on February 28, 2026, at the Papa John's restaurant in the 15000 block of Cedar Avenue in Apple Valley. According to the criminal complaint previously obtained and reported by Limitless Media, Apple Valley police responded after Roberts Ayala allegedly entered the business, went behind the counter, and attempted to access the cash register.
Before employees could intervene, prosecutors said he exited the restaurant and entered a blue sedan belonging to a pizza delivery driver who had briefly left the vehicle running while picking up orders. Authorities said Roberts Ayala did not have permission to use the vehicle.
When an Apple Valley police officer arrived and activated emergency lights, Roberts Ayala allegedly fled the parking lot in the stolen vehicle rather than complying with commands.
Pursuit Ended Near County Road 42
Authorities said Roberts Ayala led officers through Apple Valley, ignoring stop signs, crossing the center line, and driving on the shoulder while attempting to evade law enforcement. According to the complaint, officers reported the vehicle nearly lost control multiple times during the pursuit.
The chase ultimately ended near Garden View Drive and County Road 42, where officers used a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to disable the vehicle and bring it to a stop.
Prosecutors said Roberts Ayala initially refused commands to exit the vehicle and was taken into custody only after officers deployed pepper ball rounds. Investigators also noted that he appeared to be under the influence during the incident, and a blood sample was later obtained through a search warrant.
Extensive Criminal History
At the time charges were filed, prosecutors highlighted Roberts Ayala's lengthy criminal record, which included felony drug convictions, felony theft convictions, threats of violence, theft offenses, and a gross misdemeanor drug-related DWI.
Court records also showed Roberts Ayala had recently been convicted in Dakota County in a separate 2024 case involving methamphetamine possession and shoplifting from the Eagan Outlet Mall. He was sentenced in September 2025 to one year and one day in prison on the felony drug possession conviction and had been under Department of Corrections supervision beginning in November 2025.
With the June 16 sentencing, Roberts Ayala will serve an executed prison sentence for the Apple Valley pursuit case, with Minnesota's standard sentencing structure requiring approximately two-thirds of the sentence to be served in custody and the remainder on supervised release, barring disciplinary violations while incarcerated.
Court records indicate Roberts Ayala was convicted following his guilty plea entered on March 25, 2026, and sentenced on June 16, 2026. As with all criminal proceedings, court records are presumed accurate unless amended by the court.
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Will Wight
