South St. Paul Man Arrested After Allegedly Fleeing Burnsville Police; DNA Links Him to Loaded Handgun Found at Park
Published: October 11, 2026
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – A 41-year-old South St. Paul man with previous felony convictions was taken into custody by Burnsville police Thursday morning after being charged in connection with an August incident in which he allegedly fled from an officer during an attempted traffic stop. Two days after the incident, a loaded handgun was discovered near the entrance to the park where the encounter began, and forensic testing reportedly linked the firearm to the suspect.
Marquis Demon Bettis Sr., 41, was taken into custody by the Burnsville Police Department at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Bettis faces two felony charges in Dakota County District Court: possession of a firearm by an ineligible person due to a previous crime of violence and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
The Burnsville Police Department filed the criminal complaint on October 8 after an investigation. Prosecutors have requested bail of up to $100,000, citing Bettis' criminal history, several pending criminal cases, and concerns about public safety and his willingness to appear for future court proceedings.
Officer Attempts Traffic Stop Near Alimagnet Park
According to the criminal complaint, the incident began at approximately 10:59 p.m. on August 10, 2026, when a Burnsville police officer was conducting routine patrol near County Road 11 and Alimagnet Park. As the officer was leaving the park, they observed a blue Audi A4 quickly departing the area after apparently noticing the officer's fully marked patrol vehicle.
The complaint states that the Audi entered County Road 11 and traveled at speeds higher than normal, prompting the officer to position their squad vehicle behind it in preparation for a traffic stop. As the vehicle approached the intersection of County Road 11 and McAndrews Road, the driver allegedly ran a red light and continued eastbound onto McAndrews Road. The officer activated emergency lights and a siren to stop the Audi. However, prosecutors allege the driver accelerated instead of pulling over.
During the attempted pursuit, the Audi reportedly came close to colliding with another vehicle traveling on the roadway. The officer subsequently discontinued the pursuit but observed the Audi entering northbound I-35E.
Investigators determined that Bettis was the Audi's registered owner and the only person associated with the vehicle, according to the complaint. Law enforcement issued an alert for the vehicle. Investigators located both Bettis and the Audi in Shakopee on August 11th, the day after the alleged pursuit. The complaint does not specify whether Bettis was arrested at that time or describe the circumstances surrounding the vehicle's discovery in Shakopee.
Loaded Handgun Discovered Near Park Entrance
Two days after the alleged pursuit, on August 12, 2026, Burnsville police officers were dispatched to Alimagnet Park at approximately 10:42 a.m. following a report of found property. According to the complaint, a city parks employee discovered an abandoned handgun in the grass near the park's entrance and exit.
The employee directed responding officers to the firearm and reported that they had not touched or moved it before police arrived. Officers recovered the weapon, identified as a Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm handgun, which was loaded with 9mm ammunition. Investigators conducted a firearm trace through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Investigators then submitted the handgun to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for additional forensic examination.
According to prosecutors, DNA testing conducted by the BCA identified a major male DNA profile on the firearm that matched Bettis. The criminal complaint does not specify which part of the handgun contained the DNA evidence, whether other DNA profiles were recovered, or how long the firearm may have been at the park before its discovery. The complaint also does not describe any witness observing Bettis discard the firearm during the August 10th incident.
However, prosecutors allege the DNA findings, combined with the circumstances of the investigation and Bettis' previous felony convictions, establish probable cause for the firearm possession charge.
Previous Convictions Prohibited Firearm Possession
Court documents identify two previous convictions relevant to the new charges. On October 8, 2014, Bettis was convicted of a third-degree controlled substance crime involving the sale of drugs in Hennepin County District Court. Under Minnesota law, the conviction is classified as a crime of violence for purposes of firearm eligibility, making Bettis legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Prosecutors also identified a March 4, 2019, conviction in Dakota County for possession of a firearm by an ineligible person. The new criminal complaint alleges Bettis violated Minnesota Statute 624.713, subdivision 1(2), by possessing the loaded Smith & Wesson handgun despite his prohibited status.
The firearm charge carries a statutory sentencing range identified in the complaint as five to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of $9,000 to $30,000. The second charge, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, carries a maximum sentence of three years and one day in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Any sentence imposed would depend on the outcome of the case, applicable sentencing guidelines, criminal history, and other legal considerations.
Prosecutors Cite Additional Pending Criminal Cases
In a separate bail recommendation filed with Dakota County District Court on Friday, October 9th, prosecutors outlined additional concerns involving Bettis' criminal history and several pending criminal matters. According to the Dakota County Attorney's Office, Bettis is currently on conditional release in other pending cases and is also under supervised release through the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Prosecutors stated that Bettis was supposed to be participating in treatment at a facility in Maplewood.
The bail recommendation identifies four additional pending criminal cases:
August 12, 2026: Scott County District Court filed a fifth-degree controlled substance charge.
April 4, 2025: Dakota County District Court filed a fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle charge.
April 2, 2025: Domestic assault charge filed in Dakota County District Court.
March 27, 2025: Domestic assault charge filed in Dakota County District Court.
These matters are separate from the newly filed charges stemming from the August 10th incident in Burnsville. Pending criminal charges do not establish guilt, and each case must be resolved independently through the judicial process.
In their bail recommendation, prosecutors described Bettis as having a significant criminal history and argued that the new firearm charge, combined with his estimated criminal history score, would likely result in a presumptive prison commitment if he is convicted. Prosecutors also expressed concerns about Bettis' willingness to appear for future court proceedings, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the potential prison sentence.
Prosecutors Request $100,000 Bail
The Dakota County Attorney's Office has requested bail of $100,000 without conditions or $80,000 with conditions. Under the proposed conditional release arrangement, Bettis would be required to remain in Minnesota unless the court grants written permission, refrain from possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons, and participate in a pretrial release supervision program. Additional proposed conditions include abstaining from alcohol and controlled substances, submitting to random chemical testing, complying with existing protective or no-contact orders, remaining law-abiding, and attending all future court appearances.
He would also be required to keep the court and his attorney informed of his current address. In the bail recommendation, prosecutors argued that Bettis' criminal history, pending cases, supervised release status, and the seriousness of the new allegations justified a substantial bail amount. The Dakota County Attorney's Office also expressed concerns about public safety and whether Bettis would return for future court proceedings if released.
The judge ultimately sided with the prosecution's recommendation, setting his bail at $100,000 without conditions or $80,000 with conditions.
Bettis Taken Into Custody Thursday Morning
According to the criminal complaint, Dakota County District Court Judge Luis Morales authorized a nationwide arrest warrant for Bettis on October 7, 2026. The warrant directed law enforcement to apprehend Bettis and bring him before the court for further proceedings. Prosecutors requested the warrant because of the nature of the alleged offenses and concerns regarding public safety.
The Burnsville Police Department subsequently took Bettis into custody at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 8th. The circumstances surrounding Thursday's arrest, including where Bettis was located in Burnsville when officers took him into custody, were not provided.
Although investigators located Bettis and his vehicle in Shakopee on August 11th, the criminal complaint does not indicate whether he was arrested or detained then.
Bettis is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The allegations described in the criminal complaint represent the prosecution's account and have not been established as fact through a trial or guilty plea.
Pictured: Marquis Demon Bettis Sr. Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
Source: Dakota County District Court, Criminal Complaint and Arrest Warrant, filed October 8, 2026; Dakota County Attorney's Office, Prosecution's Recommendation for Bail, filed October 9, 2026.
Written by: Will Wight
