Woman Charged With Felony Fleeing After Six-Mile Police Pursuit From South St. Paul
Published: September 24th, 2026.
SOUTH SAINT PAUL MN - A woman has been charged with felony fleeing a peace officer after prosecutors allege she led police on an approximately six-mile pursuit that began in South St. Paul and continued into the eastern Twin Cities metro.
Britteny Amber Branshaw, 29, is charged in Dakota County District Court with one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years and one day in prison and a $5,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, a South St. Paul police officer was on routine patrol near 5th Avenue South and Interstate 494 at approximately 1:53 p.m. on September 21 when he saw a gray Honda Accord traveling southbound on 5th Avenue.
The officer reported seeing a blonde woman driving and a male passenger with a shaved head and tattoos. According to the complaint, both occupants looked toward the officer as they passed his squad vehicle.
Police allege the driver then accelerated, failed to stop at a stop sign at 5th Avenue South and I-494, and turned eastbound onto the interstate without signaling.
The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the Honda. The complaint alleges the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed, crossed multiple lanes of traffic and failed to pull over after the officer caught up to it.
The pursuit continued eastbound on I-494 and northbound on Highway 61 before the Honda allegedly drove through grass near a frontage road to reach eastbound Carver Avenue from Point Douglas Road. Police said the vehicle then traveled northbound on Century Avenue.
The officer eventually lost sight of the Honda near Century and Lake avenues. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle, and the pursuit was terminated after approximately six miles, according to the complaint.
Investigators determined the Honda was registered to Branshaw's father. Police subsequently identified Branshaw as the alleged driver, according to the complaint.
Police identified the male passenger as Michael Eugene Erdos. The complaint states officers were aware of several recent law enforcement contacts involving Branshaw and Erdos and that an active Domestic Abuse No Contact Order issued September 10 prohibited Erdos from having contact with Branshaw.
The complaint does not charge Branshaw with violating the no-contact order.
Prosecutors requested a warrant based on the allegations in the case.
The allegations contained in a criminal complaint are accusations. Branshaw is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.