A 19-year-old St. Paul man is facing a series of felony charges after authorities say he stole a vehicle from the Dakota County Courthouse parking lot and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit that stretched across multiple cities.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, MarKeith Rayquan Jackson is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, and theft from a person. Additional related charges and holds are also listed as the case moves forward.
The sequence of events began shortly after 1:20 p.m. on April 29, just outside the Dakota County Courthouse in Hastings. Authorities say Jackson had recently been released from custody, though details surrounding that release were not immediately available.
Police were first called to the courthouse parking lot on a report of a vehicle theft in progress. According to investigators, a woman walking toward her vehicle was approached by Jackson, who allegedly entered through the passenger side before moving into the driver’s seat in an apparent attempt to take the vehicle.
That attempt was unsuccessful. The complaint states that Jackson then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the first victim unharmed but shaken.
What followed happened quickly.
Moments later, a second woman reported that she had stopped at a stop sign within the same parking lot when Jackson entered her vehicle. Authorities allege he grabbed her purse and fled the scene on foot.
The victim got out of her vehicle and shouted for him to return it. According to the complaint, Jackson then returned, got into the driver’s seat, and drove away, this time successfully taking the vehicle.
Witnesses in the courthouse parking lot corroborated the accounts provided by both victims, investigators said.
The stolen purse contained the victim’s iPhone, which would later play a key role in helping law enforcement track the vehicle’s location.
Using that information, deputies with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle traveling eastbound on County Road 42 near Highway 3 in Rosemount. When a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver did not comply.
Instead, authorities say the vehicle accelerated and fled, heading northbound on Highway 52.
According to the complaint, speeds during the pursuit exceeded 100 miles per hour. At times, the driver used the shoulder to pass other vehicles, creating what officials described as a dangerous situation for other motorists on the roadway.
Due to those safety concerns, the pursuing deputy eventually terminated the chase.
The situation, however, was far from over.
A short time later, law enforcement officers located the vehicle again, this time in Eagan. Authorities say the driver continued to operate the vehicle erratically, running red lights and again attempting to evade officers.
The pursuit resumed, involving multiple agencies as officers worked to bring the situation under control.
Ultimately, law enforcement brought the pursuit to an end in Burnsville. Officers conducted a maneuver to box in the vehicle in the parking lot of a business located in the 1600 block of Cliff Road.
According to the complaint, Jackson then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.
Officials reported that the stolen vehicle sustained minor damage during the incident.
The victim’s iPhone, valued at approximately $800, was not recovered. Investigators believe it may have been thrown from the vehicle at some point during the pursuit.
The incident prompted a coordinated response from several law enforcement agencies across Dakota County. The Hastings Police Department handled the initial investigation at the courthouse, while the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and police departments from Rosemount, Eagan, and Burnsville were involved in the pursuit and arrest. The Minnesota State Patrol also assisted, including providing air support.
Authorities have not reported any serious injuries resulting from the incident.
Following his arrest, Jackson was booked into the Dakota County Jail later that afternoon. Records show he was taken into custody at approximately 2:14 p.m., with a booking time shortly after 4 p.m.
During his first court appearance, prosecutors requested that bail be set at $50,000 without conditions or $40,000 with conditions. The court adopted those recommendations, setting bail accordingly.
Conditions tied to the lower bail amount include requirements that Jackson remain law-abiding, have no contact with the victims, abstain from alcohol and controlled substances unless prescribed, submit to random testing, and not leave the state without court approval. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons.
As of the latest available information, Jackson remains in custody and has not posted bail.
Court records indicate that his case is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on May 14, when a judge will review evidence and formally address bail and other pretrial matters.
The complaint also lists a probation violation hold out of Ramsey County, adding another layer to the case as it proceeds through the court system.
Officials emphasized that the charges outlined in the complaint are based on probable cause and that the case remains under investigation.
The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight at a courthouse and extended across several busy roadways, underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in balancing public safety with the need to apprehend suspects.
Authorities noted that the decision to terminate the initial pursuit was made out of concern for other drivers, highlighting the risks associated with high-speed chases in populated areas.
No additional details about a possible motive have been released.
For now, the case moves forward through the courts, with multiple charges pending and several agencies continuing to piece together the full scope of what happened during the brief but intense series of events that began in a courthouse parking lot and ended with an arrest miles away.