Eagan Man Charged with Fleeing Police Claims He Was 'Stressed'

An Eagan man has been charged with leading police on a "curious" car chase through Bloomington.

Gregory Gordon Anderson, 47, 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.

A Bloomington officer on patrol spotted Anderson’s car westbound on Old Shakopee Road near Old Cedar Avenue just after 10 p.m. on Nov. 25. At the time, Anderson appeared to be speeding in a 40 mph zone, according to the criminal complaint, signed by Bloomington Police Investigator Warren Jones.

The officer confirmed that Anderson was speeding and made a U-turn to try to stop him. At that point, Anderson made an abrupt right turn, cutting off another westbound vehicle as he turned onto Old Cedar Avenue South, beginning what Jones called a "curious pursuit."

According to Jones’ account:

The officer turned north onto Old Cedar Avenue, but couldn’t see Anderson’s car anymore. As he slowed to search for him, Anderson’s car appeared, going west out of a parking lot, then drove over a curb and grassy area onto 91st Street East, still “actively fleeing.”

The officer continued pursuing Anderson through a residential area at speeds that reached 59 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. During the pursuit, the officer watched Anderson go through a number of stop signs without stopping and accelerating after making turns.

Twice during the chase, the officer lost sight of Anderson’s car. At one point, a resident pointed in the direction toward which Anderson fled; another resident called police to report that the car’s “final resting spot” was in the front yard of a home in the 1400 block of Old Shakopee Road Circle.

Two officers approached Anderson’s car and arrested him. He admitted later that he had intentionally eluded them after first noticing that he was being followed on Old Shakopee Road, according to the complaint.

Anderson said he “panicked” and admitted turning into an apartment complex, then fleeing without using the complex’s driveway, the complaint says.

Anderson “realizes his actions were inappropriate,” the complaint said. “He claimed to be stressed from being late to pick up his girlfriend and from hearing from his father this past weekend, after not having contact with him in the past 17 years.”

Anderson has been released from custody on a $20,000 bond. He is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge Dec. 20 in Hennepin County District Court.