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By now, something should be painfully obvious, running from law enforcement is never a good idea and it rarely works out for the alleged bad guy in the end. Cottage Grove officers proved that once again after a scary series of events on Wednesday, June 30th, they are great at what they do. Below is their release describing the incident. No one aside from the suspect was injured in the chase.

On Wednesday, a Cottage Grove officer was doing business patrols in the area of Kohls due to an increase in thefts from our business districts. The officer ran numerous registrations of the vehicles finding the registration on one was suspended and registered owner’s driver’s license was revoked. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the entrance ramp to north bound Highway 61 from 80th St for the abovenamed violations. When the officer exited his squad car and approached, the vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed. The officer was able to get back to his squad car and followed the vehicle NB 61. The vehicle exited to Summit Ave/70th St. and the officer found the vehicle had crashed into the bridge wall on the overpass.

Several witnesses helped by provided direction to officers about what way the suspect had run from the car. Officers set up a perimeter to search for the suspect in the 700 block of Hastings Ave in St. Paul Park. Multiple officers from area departments were immediately in the area and the suspect was ultimately apprehended in the swampy area between 70th Street and 80th Street along Hwy 61. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and a loaded firearm was located.

The Cottage Grove Police Department was assisted by the St. Paul Park Police Department, Woodbury Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol. Officers utilized a K-9 from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, monitored traffic cameras by the Minnesota State Patrol, and drone from the Cottage Grove Police Department was deployed.

The 24-year-old suspect, GINO RONELLE SHERMAN , age 25, from No St Paul was charged with multiple felonies including Fleeing a peace officer in a Motor Vehicle and being a Felon in possession of a firearm.

The Cottage Grove Police Department is committed to utilizing our available resources and working with our community and law enforcement partners to apprehend those who choose to jeopardize the safety of our community and violate the law.

We could not do our jobs without the exceptional support we receive from our community and law enforcement partners, with a special thank you to the many witnesses that helped in this case and so many others.