Man Charged After Allegedly Fleeing West St. Paul Traffic Stop, Crashing Into Squad Car
Published: March 16th, 2026 |
WEST SAINT PAUL: A man is facing a felony charge after a traffic stop in West St. Paul turned into a police pursuit that ended with a squad car being struck, according to a criminal complaint.
Jonathan Alexander Navas Mendoza (DOB: Nov. 24, 1996) is charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
According to the complaint, at about 9:40 p.m. on March 7, 2026, an officer with the West St. Paul Police Department was in full uniform and driving a fully marked squad car when he conducted a traffic stop on a gold 2010 Chevrolet Impala for equipment violations near Oakdale Avenue and Carrie Street in West Saint Paul.
The officer activated his emergency lights and the Impala stopped just west of the intersection on Butler Avenue. When the officer approached the passenger side, he observed a female passenger and asked the male driver to place the vehicle into park because it remained in drive.
The complaint states the driver, later identified as Mendoza, drove away from the stop.
The officer returned to his squad car, activated his sirens, and began pursuing the Impala westbound on Butler Avenue. According to the complaint, Mendoza did not attempt to stop and instead increased his speed and drove through red lights and stop signs while other drivers were on the roadway.
The complaint states the officer was eventually able to position his squad car in front of the Impala. As Mendoza attempted to drive around the squad car, the Impala struck the driver’s side quarter panel and wheel area, leaving the squad vehicle undrivable.
Additional officers arrived to assist in attempting to pursue the vehicle through nearby neighborhoods but were unable to immediately locate it.
Officers later found the Impala unoccupied near Winona Street, according to the complaint. Camera footage from the area allegedly showed Mendoza exiting from the driver’s seat. The complaint also states that Mendoza’s pay stubs were recovered from the driver’s side door of the vehicle.
Records show Mendoza was arrested Friday night.
As with all criminal cases, the charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.