A Hastings woman who led police from multiple departments on a chase from Rosemount into Washington County on Thursday, Nov. 14 was arrested and charged with a felony count of fleeing a peace officer.
A police officer attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by Genny Patricia Johnson, 34, on Hwy. 42 in Rosemount. The vehicle was finally stopped after it crossed into Washington County on Hwy. 61 about 13.5 miles later.
According to the criminal complaint filed Friday in Dakota County Court, at 10:19 p.m. an officer tried to initiate the stop of Johnson’s vehicle as it was speeding and crossing the lane divider. When the squad’s lights activated, Johnson allegedly increased the speed to 86 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer discontinued the pursuit but continued to follow Johnson, as the vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of County Road 42 and Highway 55 and continued into Hastings, passing a vehicle into oncoming traffic. Stop stocks had been placed at Pleasant Avenue, and Johnson’s vehicle avoided them. She also allegedly avoided an attempt by police to box in her vehicle near Pine Street.
The vehicle turned onto Hwy. 61 and crossed into Washington County where officers were able to successfully deploy stop sticks and use a PIT (precision mobilization technique) maneuver to stop Johnson’s vehicle.
Johnson was arrested and transported to the Dakota County Jail. She allegedly told authorities she was driving to purchase methamphetamine from a friend when officers tried to pull her vehicle over.
“Johnson stated she knew she had active warrants and decided to try to flee into Washington county on the belief that officers would not be able to follow her,” the criminal complaint states.
A court appearance was scheduled for Nov. 19. Johnson was being held in the jail on $50,000 bail.