Minneapolis Man Charged After High-Speed Pursuit, River Valley Search in Eagan
Published: February 20, 2026.
EAGAN, MINNESOTA - A Minneapolis man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he led officers on a dangerous high-speed pursuit through Eagan before crashing a stolen vehicle and fleeing on foot into the Minnesota River Valley.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, Javon Earl Boone, 35, of Minneapolis, has been charged with:
Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle (Minn. Stat. § 609.487.3)
Felony Receiving Stolen Property ($1,000 or Less and Motor Vehicle) (Minn. Stat. § 609.53.1)
Additional charges may be added as the investigation continues.
Traffic Stop Turns Into Six-Mile Pursuit
The incident began on February 19, 2026, when officers with the Eagan Police Department were on patrol and encountered a vehicle whose license plate triggered an alert for a stolen plate. According to the probable cause statement, an officer confirmed that the plate was stolen and observed the vehicle stopped at a traffic light. The driver then allegedly made an improper turn and drove through a red light. When the officer activated emergency lights and later a siren, the vehicle continued without stopping.
Authorities say the driver:
Drove through a stop sign
Reached speeds exceeding 76 mph in a 35 mph zone
Drove around traffic, yielding to emergency vehicles
Entered the oncoming lanes of traffic
Ran multiple red lights
Nearly struck the pursuing squad car
Nearly collided with at least two other vehicles
Officers initially discontinued the pursuit due to public safety concerns but resumed shortly after when the vehicle allegedly ran another red light at Lone Oak Road and Highway 13. The pursuit ultimately ended when the vehicle left the roadway at Lone Oak and Highway 13, traveled approximately 200 feet down an embankment, and struck a tree. The complaint states the pursuit lasted roughly six minutes and covered about six miles.
A photograph showing the suspect vehicle about 200 feet off the road, just to the south of the Highway 13 and Lone Oak Road intersection.
Search Expands Across Minnesota River Valley
After the crash, authorities say the driver fled into a wooded area on foot. A K-9 unit tracked the suspect for approximately 3 miles but did not initially locate him. Just after 4:30 PM, an officer spotted a male walking who matched the suspect's description on the Bloomington side of the Minnesota River. The suspect fled officers again on foot, but was eventually taken into custody around 4:40 PM. The search for the suspect took just over two hours.
Multiple agencies responded to assist with the perimeter and search operation, including:
Mendota Heights Police Department
Burnsville Police Department
Dakota County Sheriff's Office
Minnesota State Patrol
Bloomington Police Department
MSP Airport Police Department
The search area stretched across portions of the Minnesota River Valley, including from the crash site to:
Nicollet Avenue/Casper Landing near the Highway 77 (Cedar Avenue) bridge
Along the northern shoreline of the Minnesota River in Bloomington
Between the I-494 Bridge and the Mendota Bridge (Highway 62), where the suspect was ultimately taken into custody.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office deployed a boat to assist in transporting the suspect back to waiting squad cars and medics after he was taken into custody at the boat launch at Snelling State Park. Court documents indicate Boone crossed frozen rivers and ponds during the foot pursuit and was transported to a hospital for treatment of hypothermia and possible frostbite before being booked into jail.
Stolen Vehicle, Firearm, and Drugs Recovered
Investigators determined the vehicle Boone had been driving was stolen. Officers reported that the ignition had been “punched,” requiring a knife to turn the vehicle off.
During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly recovered:
Several license plates
A .22 caliber pistol in a locked box under the driver’s seat
Documents bearing Boone’s name
Additionally, after Boone’s clothing was laundered, authorities recovered a baggie containing 1.88 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the complaint. Prosecutors noted that further charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
Bail Set at $300,000
In a bail request filed February 20, prosecutors cited the seriousness of the pursuit, the risk to public safety, the presence of a firearm and controlled substances, and concerns about Boone’s future court appearance.
The State initially requested:
$150,000 without conditions, or
$75,000 with conditions, including electronic home monitoring, no possession of firearms, no use of alcohol or controlled substances, random testing, and remaining law-abiding.
A judge ultimately set bail at:
$300,000 without conditions, or
$150,000 with conditions
As of publication, Boone had not posted bail and remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail. As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Boone is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Will Wight
