18-Year-Old Chanhassen Man Charged After Allegedly Fleeing Police During Suspected Street Racing Incident
Published: June 4th, 2026
CHASKA MN: An 18-year-old Chanhassen man has been charged with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle following an alleged street racing incident on Highway 212 late Tuesday night.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Carver County District Court, Justin Thomas Donnelly, 18, of Chaska, is charged with one count of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and one count of misdemeanor reckless driving.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred shortly before midnight on June 2.
According to the complaint, a Chaska police officer observed three vehicles entering eastbound Highway 212 from Engler Boulevard at approximately 11:50 p.m. The vehicles were reportedly traveling close together and appeared to be traveling together.
Once on the highway, the vehicles allegedly accelerated rapidly and continued at high speeds. Court documents state that two of the vehicles began pacing one another side-by-side, with brake lights activating intermittently before both vehicles accelerated simultaneously in what the officer believed was behavior consistent with street racing.
The complaint states one of the vehicles, a black BMW sedan, was generally traveling slower than the other two and was not actively racing. Officers focused their attention on the two faster vehicles.
Authorities were eventually able to stop a 2017 Audi A4, while another vehicle allegedly continued traveling at a very high rate of speed. According to the complaint, the fleeing vehicle turned off its headlights and taillights near Audubon Road and continued without lights as it approached Powers Boulevard.
The pursuing officer activated emergency lights and siren as the vehicle exited at Powers Boulevard, but later discontinued the pursuit.
During the investigation, officers learned that the driver of the Audi, identified in the complaint as J.M., allegedly told police the other driver was his classmate, Joey Donnelly.
Officers then responded to a residence located a short distance from where the suspect vehicle was last seen. According to the complaint, a family member told officers that Donnelly drives a white Volkswagen Jetta parked in the garage and had recently arrived home before leaving again with a friend. Officers reportedly found the vehicle was still very warm to the touch.
The complaint states Donnelly later returned to the residence and allegedly told officers he had "made a mistake." He was subsequently arrested.
Investigators also learned from Minnesota State Patrol dispatch that the fleeing vehicle was described as a white sedan with an all-black roof, a description that allegedly matched Donnelly's vehicle.
The allegations contained in the complaint are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.