Anoka County Jail Booking Photo
Published: October 20th 2026.
ANOKA COUNTY -A 22-year-old woman faces felony fleeing and gross misdemeanor driving while impaired (DWI) charges after allegedly leading police on a high-speed pursuit through Columbia Heights, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph before eventually stopping, according to a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court.
Audrianna Cesilia Mendoza has been charged with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and one gross misdemeanor count of second-degree DWI in connection with the October 17, 2026, incident.
According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 11:43 p.m., a Columbia Heights police sergeant observed a vehicle traveling approximately 70 mph in a posted 30 mph zone in the 4000 block of Central Avenue Northeast.
The complaint alleges the vehicle was swerving and weaving through traffic when the sergeant made a U-turn and activated his emergency lights in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop.
Rather than stopping, the vehicle allegedly accelerated to speeds between 80 and 100 mph.
The sergeant notified other officers of the vehicle's direction of travel, and two additional officers pursued it as it continued traveling at high speeds along what prosecutors described as a heavily traveled main thoroughfare.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop, and officers identified Mendoza as the driver.
According to court documents, officers observed that Mendoza had an unsteady gait, watery eyes and an odor of alcohol coming from her.
When questioned about her alcohol consumption, Mendoza initially told officers she had not consumed "that much" alcohol before abruptly stating that she was drunk, according to the complaint.
Officers subsequently administered several field sobriety tests, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, walk-and-turn test, one-leg stand test and a preliminary breath test. The complaint alleges Mendoza failed the tests.
Mendoza was arrested and transported to the police station, where she was read Minnesota's breath test advisory and agreed to provide a breath sample.
According to the complaint, a subsequent breath test registered an alcohol concentration of 0.20, more than twice Minnesota's legal driving limit of 0.08.
Under Minnesota law, felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle carries a maximum penalty of three years and one day in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. The gross misdemeanor DWI charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
The charges are allegations, and Mendoza is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: Anoka County Criminal Complaint