Saint Paul Man Facing Felony Fleeing Charges Following Pursuit; Suspect Has Multiple Drug-Related Active Warrants
Published: November 22, 2025.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA—A 56-year-old St. Paul man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly fleeing from a Mendota Heights police officer during a late-night traffic stop on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, the suspect, identified as Cher Yang, of Saint Paul, attempted to evade law enforcement both in a vehicle and later on foot before being taken into custody.
Traffic Stop Leads to Attempted Escape
At approximately 10:44 p.m., a Mendota Heights police officer monitoring traffic on I-35E near Mendota Heights Road observed a vehicle traveling without taillights. The officer initiated a traffic stop near I-35E and Highway 13.
When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver handed over a voided driver’s license belonging to a different person, identified on the card as “Teng Yang,” born in 1973. According to the complaint, the appearance on the license did not match the driver. When questioned about the listed height, weight, and address, the driver provided information inconsistent with the identification.
As the officer stepped away momentarily, the driver allegedly shifted the vehicle into drive and sped off from the traffic stop. The officer pursued the fleeing vehicle as it exited onto Shepard Road. The officer briefly lost sight of the vehicle, but soon located it on the ramp with hazard lights flashing.
The suspect, later confirmed to be Cher Yang, then ran from the vehicle. After a brief foot chase, the officer apprehended Yang.
Suspect Identified; Found to Have Multiple Warrants
Following his arrest, law enforcement confirmed the driver’s true identity and discovered that Yang had multiple active warrants:
Ramsey County case: Two counts of first-degree drug possession, with two prior failures to appear.
Scott County case: Two felony drug charges, including second-degree drug possession, with two failures to appear.
According to prosecutors, Yang likely fled the traffic stop to avoid arrest on the outstanding warrants.
Yang Facing Major Ramsey County Drug Charges
At the time of his arrest in Mendota Heights, Cher Yang was already facing serious felony drug charges in Ramsey County stemming from a large-scale narcotics investigation conducted in 2024. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Yang is charged with two counts of first-degree drug possession, the most severe level of drug charge under Minnesota law.
The charges stem from May 9, 2024, when investigators executed a series of search warrants targeting two St. Paul residences, 700 block of Sims Avenue and Yang’s listed address at 900 block of Flandrau Street, as well as a 2011 Acura TSX that officers had repeatedly observed Yang using during suspected drug transactions. Officers reported that multiple pieces of intelligence linked Yang to ongoing methamphetamine sales, prompting the multi-location warrant.
Earlier that day, investigators followed Yang as he left the Sims Avenue address and placed a bag, previously seen in other suspected drug deals, into the Acura. Officers detained Yang after he briefly stopped at a restaurant on Payne Avenue.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine along with drug-distribution tools, including torches, digital scales, and large bundles of plastic baggies. Testing later confirmed the seized substances were methamphetamine totaling over 3,250 grams (more than 7 pounds), divided into multiple bags weighing:
4.182 pounds (1,896.9 grams)
2.393 pounds (1,085.4 grams)
271 grams
A search of the Sims Avenue residence also revealed drug-related evidence. Officers found men’s clothing and Minnesota DVS documents bearing Yang’s name inside the master bedroom, as well as two bags, one Coach-brand and one Bella Russon, that contained additional suspected methamphetamine and other drugs. A woman present in the home told officers that Yang was the sole occupant of the master bedroom and had been selling drugs “for the past 10 years,” though she denied being involved.
The complaint also notes that Yang has a history of failing to appear in previous felony cases. In October 2020, he failed to appear for a scheduled jury trial in a Scott County drug case. He also has prior convictions for violating the conditions of supervised release.
If convicted on the first-degree drug possession charges, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $1 million.
Scott County Drug Case Dating Back to 2019
Court records show that Cher Yang’s felony drug charges in Scott County are tied to a 2019 traffic stop that led to the discovery of methamphetamine, marijuana, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia. A statewide warrant was issued for Yang in this case on September 20, 2024, which remained active at the time of his arrest in the Mendota Heights case.
According to the Scott County criminal complaint, the charges in this case stem from a stop conducted by Shakopee Police on November 14, 2019, after an officer observed a vehicle traveling on Highway 169 with several occupants not wearing seat belts. The vehicle also exhibited erratic lane movement and had a malfunctioning center brake light.
Yang, who was driving, initially identified himself as “Teng Yang,” the same false name he reportedly used in other encounters with law enforcement, including the Mendota Heights case we previously mentioned. Officers quickly discovered discrepancies and confirmed his true identity. A records check revealed Yang’s driver’s license was revoked and that he had multiple active felony warrants, including drug-related warrants out of Hennepin, Ramsey, and Pine counties, as well as a domestic assault warrant out of Washington County.
During the stop, officers found small baggies containing methamphetamine on Yang’s person: three separate bags weighing 0.49 grams, 0.38 grams, and 1.30 grams. Yang was arrested, and officers searched the remaining passengers and the vehicle. The three other occupants, identified as Jeffrey Steven Hoeppner, Ong Xiong, and Csonya Jackmon, were also removed from the vehicle after officers observed suspicious movements and attempts to hide items.
A detailed vehicle search uncovered:
A black zippered case on the front passenger seat containing 0.42 grams of methamphetamine
A glass pipe with methamphetamine residue under the rear passenger seat
A glass tube with methamphetamine residue inside a blue drawstring bag
A large bag of methamphetamine was under the seat where Xiong had been sitting
A sock containing multiple baggies of methamphetamine weighing 37.4 grams
A paper bag containing additional drug packaging with trace amounts of methamphetamine alongside ID cards belonging to Xiong and Yang
A backpack in the trunk containing 289 grams of marijuana and a smaller bag with 35 grams of marijuana
In total, officers recovered over 37 grams of methamphetamine from inside the vehicle, an amount consistent with felony-level distribution.
After being read his Miranda rights, Hoeppner provided a statement acknowledging recent methamphetamine use among the group, including the night prior at a hotel with Yang. Hoeppner also admitted that Yang had given him the black zippered drug bag and that he had seen Yang remove multiple baggies of meth from his pants.
Yang was ultimately charged with:
Count I: Second-Degree Controlled Substance Crime (possession of 25 grams or more of methamphetamine), punishable by up to 40 years in prison
Count II: Fifth-Degree Controlled Substance Crime (possession of a Schedule I–IV controlled substance), punishable by up to 5 years in prison
The complaint notes that Yang has a prior felony drug conviction in Ramsey County from 2003 and was 50 years old at the time of the Scott County arrest.
Latest Charges Filed in Dakota County
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office charged Yang with:
Count 1: Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle (Minn. Stat. 609.487 subd. 3)
Count 2: Misdemeanor Fleeing a Peace Officer (Other Than in a Motor Vehicle) (Minn. Stat. 609.487 subd. 6)
Prosecutors also highlighted that Yang provided a false identification during the stop, further complicating the investigation.
Bail and Court Conditions
A Dakota County judge set bail at $30,000 without conditions or $20,000 with conditions. His next court appearance is set for December 17, 2025, in Hastings, Minnesota.
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
This information comes from a probable cause statement and court documents filed in Dakota County District Court. These are merely allegations, not proof of guilt. Yang is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Written by: Will Wight
