Despite Passenger's Pleas, Man Allegedly Fled from Eagan Officers

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An Apple Valley man allegedly ignored his passengers pleas as he led Eagan officers on a 1.4-mile car chase through two cities, police say. 

Israel Delossantos, 26, was charged with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle; one second-degree DWI and one third-degree DWI, both gross misdemeanors; and one misdemeanor count of driving with a revoked license. If convicted on the felony flight charge, he could face a maximum sentence of three years and one day in prison and $5,000 in fines.

Police say the incident began when an Eagan officer on a routine patrol near Cliff Road and Galaxy Avenue ran the license plate of a vehicle and discovered that the registered owner had an outstanding warrant.

The officer activated his emergency lights and pursued the vehicle southbound on Galaxy Avenue, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office. At one point during the pursuit, the officer shined a spotlight directly into the fleeing vehicle, but police say the driver ignored the lights and continued at a constant rate of speed.

After turning westbound on Geneva Way in Apple Valley, the driver eventually stopped, according to police. Police allegedly detected the odor of alcoholic beverages on the driver, identified as Delossantos, but police say the defendant refused to give a breathalyzer test, urine test and blood test.

During a search of the vehicle, the officer allegedly found an open bottle of malt liquor underneath a rear seat. Police also interviewed the passenger, who said Delossantos didn't listen when the passenger told him to stop the vehicle during the pursuit.

Delossantos, who was convicted after a prior impaired driving incident, also had a revoked license at the time of arrest, according to police.