Man Facing Charges After Fleeing Inver Grove Heights Police During Early Morning Traffic Stop; Officer's Accidental Firearm Discharge Being Investigated
Published: July 8, 2026
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA: A driver is expected to face criminal charges after allegedly fleeing from Inver Grove Heights police during an attempted traffic stop early Wednesday morning, July 8, 2026. The incident also included an accidental firearm discharge by an officer after the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
According to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, the incident began at approximately 3:41 a.m. when officers attempted to stop a vehicle near South Street and 6th Avenue South. Police said the driver refused to stop and fled from officers. Officers eventually lost sight of the vehicle but remained in the area searching for it. A short time later, another Inver Grove Heights officer located the same vehicle in the general vicinity and initiated a second traffic stop. This time, the vehicle pulled over in the 6200 block of Cahill Avenue East.
According to the department, the driver, who was later determined to be the vehicle's only occupant, immediately exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. As an officer approached the abandoned vehicle, an accidental firearm discharge occurred. Police said the officer was near the driver's side rear of the vehicle when a single round was unintentionally fired into one of the vehicle's tires. Authorities emphasized that the shot was not directed at any person, and officers confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle or in the immediate area when the discharge occurred.
Following a search of the area, officers located the fleeing suspect nearby. Police said the individual had suffered injuries after falling while climbing over a fence during the attempted escape. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were related to the fall and not the accidental firearm discharge.
The individual is expected to face criminal charges through a formal complaint once released from the hospital.
The Inver Grove Heights Police Department said it has launched an internal review of the accidental firearm discharge in accordance with its standard operating procedures. No officers or bystanders were reported injured during the incident.
It appears several neighboring agencies assisted in the search for the suspect; we can confirm that at least Bloomington Police, Eagan Police, South St. Paul, and the Minnesota State Patrol were involved. Additional information, including the identity of the suspect and the anticipated charges, has not yet been released. The investigation remains ongoing.
Rough look at the location where the second traffic stop and suspect search occurred in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Written by: Will Wight
