Man Steals Police Cruiser, Dies in Subsequent Crash

 

A welfare check on a man turned into a crash involving a police cruiser Monday evening in Grand Forks.

The Grand Forks Police Department responded to a welfare check on a male shortly after 5 p.m. The subject was located at a business on Grand Forks’ south end. During the course of conversation with the subject, it was learned that he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Officers attempted to arrest the man, who then began actively fighting with the officers. An officer’s holster broke while the subject was attempting to disarm him. The male disengaged with the officers, stole a police cruiser and left the scene.

Lieutenant Derik Zimmel tells WZFG News that the individual did not get a hold of the officer’s weapon.

While officers were attempting to locate the fleeing suspect, indications are that he accessed Interstate 29, and began traveling northbound.  He apparently turned to the west, crossed the median, driving in the path of a southbound tractor-trailer.  The collision left the semi disabled and partially off the roadway, the patrol vehicle totaled, and the suspect deceased.  The suspect’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

I-29 was partially blocked between 32nd Avenue South and Demers Avenue for around three hours, while investigators processed the scene. At around 10 p.m., the interstate was fully opened, the Grand Forks Police Department said.