Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Burnsville Theft and Fleeing Police After Kohl’s Incident
Published: November 14, 2025
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 17 months in state prison after pleading guilty to felony theft in connection with a February shoplifting incident at the Burnsville Kohl’s that escalated into a high-speed attempt to evade police.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County, Tarmaine Philon Taylor, 45, and a female accomplice stole more than $1,191 in merchandise from the Kohl’s store on February 22, 2025. Taylor, identified by officers as the driver, later fled a traffic stop at high speed, prompting Burnsville Police to end the pursuit for safety reasons.
The Incident
Police were dispatched to the Burnsville Kohl’s located in the 13000 block of Aldrich Avenue South, around the time of the theft, after a witness reported two suspects leaving the store with a cart full of unpaid merchandise. The witness described the suspects as a Black male and a Black female who fled in a black sedan with a distinctive red stripe, traveling toward County Road 42.
A Burnsville officer spotted the vehicle in a turn lane leading to northbound I-35W. When the officer activated emergency lights and positioned his squad in front of the suspect vehicle, Taylor maneuvered around the squad as the traffic light turned green and accelerated up the interstate on-ramp. Investigators say he cut off another vehicle as he merged onto the freeway. Police terminated the pursuit when the vehicle reached Bloomington and issued a statewide KOPS alert.
Surveillance footage reviewed by officers showed Taylor pushing a cart full of merchandise through the store, exiting without attempting to pay, and loading the items into the getaway car before driving off.
Arrest and Investigation
The following day, February 23, officers in Roseville apprehended Taylor after a separate theft at Rosedale Mall. Burnsville officers responded to assist and took Taylor into custody, later towing his vehicle. A search warrant executed on February 24 confirmed the vehicle was registered to Taylor, though the stolen Kohl’s merchandise was no longer inside.
Kohl’s loss-prevention reports documented $1,191.97 in stolen goods.
Court records show Taylor has an extensive history of theft-related offenses, including prior felony convictions for possessing burglary/theft tools and fleeing police in a motor vehicle.
Sentencing
According to a Dakota County District Court sentencing order, Taylor was convicted on Count 1: Theft Over $1,000 and, on November 20, 2025, sentenced to 17 months in the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections, to be served at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud. He was granted 188 days of credit for time served. Under Minnesota’s sentencing structure, Taylor will serve two-thirds of the sentence in prison and the remaining one-third on supervised release, assuming he complies with correctional facility rules. He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and pay court-ordered fees.
The sentencing order shows that the second charge, Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle, was included in the case, but Taylor was sentenced on the theft count only.
Provided by Dakota County Jail.
Written By: Will Wight
