Minneapolis Man Charged with Fleeing Maple Grove Police

A Minneapolis man has been charged with leading Maple Grove police on a brief high-speed chase.

Anthony Michael Watson, 20, is charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Maple Grove Police Detective Tanya Petz, officers spotted a car speeding in Maple Grove on Oct. 14 and began a pursuit.

An officer pulled in behind the car and turned on the squad car’s lights and sirens. However, the driver of the other car, later identified as Watson, accelerated and fled. The chase ended when Watson lost control of his car while making too sharp a turn onto the on-ramp for Interstate 94, according to the complaint.

Watson’s car slowed in the grass off the road and came to a stop. When officers saw Watson’s backup lights come on, they got out of their cars and arrested him, according to the compliant.

Watson remains in the Hennepin County Jail on a $20,000 bond. He is also being held on a Brooklyn Center warrant and on a state Department of Corrections hold. He is scheduled to make a first appearance on the fleeing charge Oct. 17 in Hennepin County District Court.