Police Pursue Hibbing Man After The Steals Squad Car In Northern Minnesota

Video recently released to a Minnesota-based crime reporting page shows what both pursuing law enforcement officers and the suspect saw after the 21-year-old Hibbing man took a parked but still running squad car from a courthouse in St. Louis County.

According to a report from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office on August 2nd of this year, at 10:20 PM a St. Louis County Sheriff’s patrol squad parked outside the County Courthouse complex in Virginia was stolen.  The squad, which was thought to be locked, was left parked with the engine running by a Deputy who then momentarily entered the Sheriff’s Office.  A short time later, it was discovered the squad car had been stolen.  The Sheriff’s Office was able to locate the stolen squad using GPS technology and track it while it was being driven through the City of Virginia.

The motor vehicle theft suspect was identified as 21-year-old Joshua Harjamaki of Hibbing. 

During the chase, Harjamaki allegedly took a shotgun that was in the vehicle and "brandished" it out the driver’s window.  Harjamaki, according to the report "eventually threw or dropped the firearm out of the window, which assisting squads were able to immediately retrieve." Police later "confirmed" that the weapon was from the stolen squad.

The chase ended with Harjamaki being PIT stopped by a pursuing deputy on Highway 169. The stolen vehicle "sustained heavy damage as a result of the incident and PIT maneuver" as the vehicle ended up rolling into the ditch as a result of the PIT. Harjamaki was uninjured in the crash.

Since the chase Harjamaki had pled guilty to motor vehicle theft and DWI. According to MNCrime "Harjamaki had three other charges dismissed, including fleeing police in a motor vehicle. For the incident, Harjamaki was sentenced to six months in jail, three years of probation, must complete a mental health and substance abuse program, and pay about $30,000 in restitution."