Eagan Police Pursuit Leads to Felony DWI Charges Against Repeat Offender Already on Probation for Previous Conviction
Published: October 13, 2026
EAGAN, MN: A 30-year-old man with multiple previous impaired driving convictions is facing two new felony charges following a police pursuit through Eagan that allegedly involved a collision with another vehicle, damage to a street sign and light pole, and several attempts to evade officers.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, Carlos Escamilla, 30, has been charged with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and first-degree driving while impaired in connection with an incident on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The latest charges come nearly two years after Escamilla was convicted of felony first-degree DWI following a similar incident in Inver Grove Heights in February 2024, when officers reported that he fled a traffic stop and was subsequently found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.23.
Court records reviewed by Limitless Media News show that Escamilla was still serving a five-year supervised probation sentence for that previous conviction when the latest incident occurred. The new case also comes amid additional probation violation proceedings stemming from his 2024 conviction, raising the possibility that Escamilla could face consequences in both his new criminal case and his prior sentence.
Report of Erratic Driving Leads to Police Encounter
According to the statement of probable cause, an Eagan Police Department officer was dispatched at approximately 11:04 p.m. on October 3rd to the area of Pin Oak Drive and Rahncliff Road after receiving a report of a vehicle swerving between lanes and traveling at inconsistent speeds. Upon arriving in the area, the officer located a vehicle parked perpendicular to the entrance of a business, blocking other vehicles from entering.
The officer approached the vehicle and knocked on the driver's window to get the driver's attention. Court documents state that the officer observed open containers of alcohol on the passenger-side floorboard in plain view. The driver, later identified as Escamilla, was the vehicle's sole occupant.
According to the complaint, Escamilla made eye contact with the officer and looked at the officer's uniform. The officer also observed that Escamilla's eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. Rather than remaining at the scene, prosecutors allege Escamilla placed his hands on the steering wheel and attempted to drive away. Escamilla allegedly drove over a curb and onto a grassy area outside the business, causing the undercarriage of his vehicle to scrape against the curb. Despite the apparent contact with the curb, Escamilla continued through the parking lot toward Rahncliff Road.
Pursuit Through Eagan Neighborhood Ends With Multiple Collisions
Based on the officer's observations, including the open alcohol containers, Escamilla's physical appearance, and his driving behavior, the officer returned to a fully marked Eagan Police Department squad vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The officer activated the squad vehicle's emergency lights and siren, but Escamilla allegedly refused to stop.
According to the criminal complaint, Escamilla continued driving through a nearby residential neighborhood while making several evasive maneuvers in an apparent attempt to escape officers.
During the pursuit, prosecutors allege Escamilla:
Sideswiped another vehicle.
Failed to stop at a stop sign.
Turned off his vehicle's headlights while fleeing.
Continued attempting to escape after officers tried to stop his vehicle using a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver.
Drove in reverse, striking a street sign and a light pole.
The complaint states that officers attempted a PIT maneuver to end the pursuit. Escamilla allegedly responded by shifting his vehicle into reverse and continuing to drive backward. While reversing, his vehicle struck a street sign and a light pole, causing the pole to fall into the roadway and temporarily obstruct traffic.
Multiple police vehicles eventually surrounded Escamilla's vehicle, preventing him from continuing to flee. Officers then took Escamilla into custody.
The complaint does not specify whether anyone was injured in the collision with the other vehicle or estimate the property damage caused during the pursuit.
Officers Suspect Alcohol Impairment; Chemical Test Results Pending
Following Escamilla's arrest, officers reported detecting a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and observing that his speech was slurred. Investigators cited several factors supporting their belief that Escamilla had been operating a vehicle while impaired, including the original report of erratic driving, open alcohol containers, bloodshot and watery eyes, the attempt to flee police, multiple collisions, and the observations made following his arrest.
Officers subsequently obtained a search warrant authorizing the collection of a blood or urine sample. Escamilla was transported to the emergency department at Ridges Hospital, where the warrant was executed. According to the criminal complaint, the urine test results were still pending when prosecutors filed charges.
The complaint does not provide a confirmed alcohol concentration for the October 3rd incident.
Previous Felony DWI Conviction Stemmed From Similar Police Pursuit
The October 2026 allegations are not Escamilla's first encounter with law enforcement involving suspected impaired driving and an attempt to evade a traffic stop. Court records show that on February 4, 2024, at approximately 9:37 p.m., an Inver Grove Heights police officer observed a gray 2008 GMC Yukon traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of 70th Street near Highway 52. The vehicle subsequently made a quick left turn onto northbound Highway 52.
When the officer activated the squad vehicle's emergency lights, Escamilla allegedly accelerated down the entrance ramp and onto the highway at a high rate of speed, pulling away from the pursuing officer. According to the previous criminal complaint, the pursuit continued for about half a mile before Escamilla abruptly applied his brakes and stopped north of the Highway 52 and 65th Street intersection. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and took Escamilla into custody without further incident.
The arresting officer reported observing bloodshot and watery eyes and detecting the odor of alcohol. When the officer explained that the high-risk stop occurred because Escamilla accelerated after emergency lights were activated, Escamilla reportedly acknowledged his actions and stated, "Yeah, I know."
A search of the vehicle uncovered an unopened 16-ounce can of Coors Light and an almost empty case of 16-ounce Coors Light cans. Investigators also determined that Escamilla's driver's license had been canceled as inimical to public safety.
Escamilla initially declined standardized field sobriety testing and a preliminary breath test. However, after being advised of Minnesota's breath testing requirements and consulting with an attorney, he agreed to submit to an evidentiary breath test. The test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.23, nearly three times Minnesota's legal limit of 0.08.
Prosecutors charged Escamilla with first-degree DWI and felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. However, unlike the allegations in the current case, the 2024 prosecution resulted in a conviction only for first-degree DWI. The fleeing charge was dismissed as part of a negotiated guilty plea.
History of Impaired Driving Convictions Dating Back to 2016
The February 2024 felony conviction was itself the result of an extensive history of impaired driving offenses. According to the 2024 criminal complaint, Escamilla had accumulated three qualifying DWI convictions within the preceding ten years.
The escalating severity of these convictions ultimately resulted in Escamilla's first-degree felony DWI conviction in October 2024. His latest arrest represents another alleged impaired driving incident approximately two years after that conviction.
Sentenced to Three Years in Prison, but Execution Stayed
On October 17, 2024, Escamilla was sentenced in Dakota County District Court after pleading guilty to first-degree felony DWI. Under the negotiated plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the accompanying felony fleeing charge.
District Court Judge Kathryn Iverson Landrum imposed a 36-month prison sentence but stayed its execution for five years, allowing Escamilla to remain under supervised probation rather than immediately serve the prison term. The original sentence included 180 days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for 97 days already served. Escamilla was also placed on five years of supervised probation through Dakota County Community Corrections, scheduled to continue until October 17, 2029.
The conditions of his probation included abstaining from alcohol and controlled substances, submitting to random chemical testing, completing chemical dependency evaluations and treatment, complying with all criminal laws, and maintaining regular contact with his probation officer. He was also required to complete periods of electronic alcohol home monitoring during each year of probation.
The sentencing order specifically required Escamilla to report any contact with law enforcement or new criminal charges to his probation officer within 72 hours. Because the 36-month prison sentence was stayed rather than dismissed, probation violations could result in the court ordering the previously imposed prison sentence to be executed. Such an outcome would require further court proceedings and a judicial determination.
Previous Probation Violation Resulted in Additional Jail Sentence
Court records reveal that Escamilla had already faced probation violation proceedings before his October 2026 arrest. On April 11, 2025, Dakota County Community Corrections submitted a recommendation to the court alleging that Escamilla failed to maintain contact with probation authorities and did not update his contact information. The supervising agency recommended that the court vacate the stay of execution and issue a warrant for his arrest.
A judge subsequently signed an order directing that Escamilla be apprehended and brought before the court to address the alleged violation. Additional court documents show that the case continued into 2026.
An amended sentencing order filed April 7, 2026, imposed an additional 120 days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for four days already served. The amended order continued to list the original 36-month prison sentence as stayed and retained supervised probation. The additional jail sentence demonstrates that Escamilla had already faced court-imposed consequences in his previous felony DWI case before the latest alleged offense.
Another Probation Violation Filed Following October Arrest
Just three days after the October 3rd incident in Eagan, Dakota County Community Corrections submitted another probation violation recommendation in Escamilla's previous felony DWI case. The document, filed October 6, 2026, alleges that Escamilla failed to complete 60 days of electronic alcohol monitoring and 30 days of electronic alcohol home monitoring by a court-ordered deadline of October 17, 2026.
Probation officer Karl Pederstuen and supervisor Eric Uddin submitted the recommendation. The filing asked the court to vacate the stay of execution and require Escamilla to appear in court to respond to the allegations. A judge signed an order directing Escamilla to appear before the court while the probation violation proceedings continued.
Notably, the October 6th filing predates the stated October 17th monitoring deadline. The document does not explain that discrepancy, and the alleged violation should not be considered a final judicial finding. The new criminal charges could also become relevant to Escamilla's probation status because his previous sentencing conditions required him to remain law-abiding and refrain from consuming alcohol.
However, the October 6th probation violation document specifically identifies the electronic monitoring requirements, rather than the new criminal allegations, as the basis for that filing.
Prosecutors Request High Bail Citing Public Safety
Following the October 3rd arrest, the Dakota County Attorney's Office recommended substantial bail for Escamilla. In an October 5th filing, prosecutors requested bail of $50,000 without conditions or $40,000 with conditions. The prosecution's recommendation stated that high bail was warranted in the interest of public safety.
A Dakota County District Court release order filed October 6th established those same bail amounts. Under the conditional release option, Escamilla must comply with several court-imposed restrictions, including participation in a pretrial release program if eligible, alcohol monitoring before release from custody, random chemical testing, and restrictions on alcohol and controlled substance use or possession, with exceptions for prescribed medications.
He is also prohibited from leaving Minnesota without written court approval and must attend all future court appearances. As of the writing of this story, Escamilla had not posted bail and remained in custody at the Dakota County Jail.
Two New Felony Charges Filed
Escamilla faces the following charges in Dakota County District Court:
The first-degree DWI charge is based on Escamilla's previous felony impaired driving conviction. Under Minnesota law, a prior felony DWI conviction can serve as the basis for another first-degree DWI charge. The statutory penalties listed in the complaint do not represent a sentence already imposed. Any sentence would depend on the outcome of the criminal proceedings, applicable sentencing requirements, and the court's determination.
Court Proceedings Continue
Under the October 6th conditional release order, Escamilla was scheduled to appear for an omnibus hearing today, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9 a.m. at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. An omnibus hearing generally addresses legal and procedural matters, including challenges to evidence and other pretrial issues. The court documents reviewed do not establish the outcome of that scheduled hearing.
The new felony prosecution and the probation violation proceedings associated with Escamilla's 2024 conviction remain separate legal matters, although developments in one case could affect the other. The October 2026 allegations have not resulted in a conviction.
Escamilla is presumed innocent of the new criminal charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sources: Dakota County District Court, Criminal Complaint, dated October 2026; Dakota County Attorney's Office, Prosecution Recommendation for Bail, dated October 5, 2026; Dakota County District Court, Order for Conditional Release, dated October 6, 2026; Dakota County District Court, Warrant of Commitment, dated October 17, 2024; Petition to Enter Guilty Plea, filed August 16, 2024; Probation Violation Recommendations, filed April 11, 2025, and October 6, 2026; Amended Warrant of Commitment, dated April 7, 2026.
Written by: Will Wight
