Man Charged After Multi-Agency High-Speed Chase and DWI Refusal
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA—A Blaine man is facing charges after allegedly fleeing police at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and refusing a breath test during a traffic stop in the early morning hours of July 13, 2025, that began in South St Paul, Minnesota and ended in Anoka County, Minnesota.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, Jose Luis Chavez, 36, has been charged with one felony count of Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle and one gross misdemeanor count of Third-Degree Driving While Impaired – Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test.
South St. Paul police say the incident began around 12:38 a.m. on July 13, when an officer observed a vehicle commit several moving violations within city limits. The officer attempted a traffic stop, and the vehicle initially pulled over at a gas station. However, during the interaction, the officer noted signs of impairment: the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred, and the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. As the officer spoke with the driver, the suspect suddenly accelerated, squealing his tires and fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed.
Law enforcement from multiple agencies pursued the fleeing vehicle along several major highways, including Highway 52, I-35E, I-694, Highway 10, and I-35W. The chase spanned a significant portion of the metro area. It reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour before coming to a stop in the north metro, where officers executed a successful PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver.
The driver was identified as Jose Luis Chavez, of Blaine. Authorities arrested Chavez at the scene. Inside the vehicle, officers recovered three empty beer bottles. Chavez was read the state’s breath test advisory but refused to provide a breath sample and declined legal counsel.
According to the complaint, Chavez also had an active warrant in Ramsey County at the time of the incident for violating an order for protection (OFP).
Prosecutors have requested that bail be set at $25,000 without conditions, or $20,000 with multiple conditions, including electronic home monitoring with an alcohol sensor, participation in the pretrial release program, random chemical testing, and restrictions on leaving Minnesota. Additional conditions include abstaining from alcohol or controlled substances, remaining law-abiding, and keeping court officials informed of his current address. Dakota County officials cited the extreme danger posed to the public during the pursuit and Chavez’s active warrant status as justification for the higher bail amount. His bail was later set at $20,000 without conditions and $10,000 with conditions.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Chavez, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Written by: Will Wight
