Driver rams squad car, crashes into building during police chase in Minneapolis: Charges

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A 33-year-old man from South St. Paul faces felony fees after ramming right into a squad automotive and crashing into a number of objects throughout a police chase in Minneapolis on Monday.

The prison grievance states on Dec. 5, Minneapolis Police Officers noticed 33-year-old Nicholas Neil Nikiforakis, who was wished for a number of felony arrest warrants, driving close to Hiawatha and thirty fifth Avenue. 

Officers tried to provoke a visitors cease, however Nikiforakis rammed into the squad automotive and drove away, the grievance states. The squad automotive was inoperable after the collision. 

Police began to pursue Nikiforakis till he crashed into an indication, fireplace hydrant and a constructing, court docket paperwork state. He ran away from the scene on foot however was taken into custody. 

In keeping with court docket paperwork, officers had earlier info that the 33-year-old had a firearm and searched his car the place they discovered a Glock handgun with no serial quantity and an prolonged journal. A second loaded handgun was present in a bag within the backseat of the car, the grievance states.

Officers allegedly discovered fentanyl capsules and several other small baggies of marijuana within the automotive’s middle console. Throughout the arrest, police reportedly recovered fentanyl from Nikiforakis’ hoodie pocket, in keeping with court docket paperwork. 

Nikiforakis was charged by way of warrant on Wednesday with third-degree drug possession, first-degree harm to public security car, fleeing police in a car, fourth-degree assault of a police officer, and a prohibited individual in possession of a firearm. He’s scheduled to make his first court docket look on Thursday. 

Police say Nikiforakis has three lively arrest warrants out of Ramsey County for a prohibited individual in possession of a firearm, theft of a motorcar, and receiving stolen property. He additionally has a pending case in Hennepin County. 

The 33-year-old has two earlier convictions for fleeing police in a automotive and a conviction for first-degree prison harm to a public security car, along with others, in keeping with court docket paperwork.