Man Accused of Fleeing Inver Grove Heights Police at 100+ MPH
Dakota County Jail Booking Photo
Published: September 28th, 2026.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS: — A 49-year-old man is facing a felony fleeing charge after prosecutors allege he sped away from police at more than 100 mph, later telling officers he fled to distract them from “his lady.”
Shepherd Ivan Allan Navi has been charged in Dakota County District Court with one count of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years and one day in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called Sept. 25 after a reporting party said a woman who appeared intoxicated was leaving an adult entertainment establishment in Inver Grove Heights. The reporting party also told police that Navi left the establishment in a red Ford Mustang.
Officers located the vehicles on Concord Street and allegedly saw Navi motion with his hand for the woman to drive past his vehicle while stopped at a red light.
The complaint alleges Navi then turned onto westbound Interstate 494 and accelerated to more than 100 mph. Officers in marked squad cars activated their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him, but prosecutors allege Navi continued fleeing into Bloomington before turning onto northbound Highway 77.
Police deployed stop sticks, which Navi allegedly drove over. His vehicle eventually stopped after its tires deflated, and officers arrested him, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors allege Navi made several spontaneous statements after his arrest in which he admitted fleeing from police. The complaint says he joked that the quality of his car’s “EcoBoost” engine prevented him from successfully getting away.
Navi allegedly told officers that he fled police to distract them from the woman, whom he referred to as “his lady,” according to the complaint.
The allegations contained in the criminal complaint have not been proven in court. Navi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.