Minnesota Man Arrested 35th Time for Stealing Truck, Driving Wrong Way Hours After Leaving Jail

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Minnesota man’s 35th arrest occurred hours after he was released from the Ramsey County Jail. 

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The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that deputies responded to the report of a stolen pick-up truck and back on April 19. MnDOT traffic cameras in the Maplewood area showed the truck traveling the wrong way on a four-lane road. 

Authorities say 31-year-old Yonas Abay posted a $5,000 bond to get out of jail around 6 a.m. on the morning of the 19th after being arrested on suspicion of drug possession and active arrest warrants for DWI and receiving stolen property. He was seen driving the stolen pick-up around 7:40 a.m. 

Deputies deployed stop sticks in an attempt to stop the stolen truck. Officials say one of the truck’s tires deflated after striking the sticks but Abay continued driving and was tracked into a residential area where a deputy reportedly spotted him driving at 60 mph. 

The deputy deployed a second set of stop sticks which deflated another one of the stolen truck’s tires. Authorities say Abay then dropped off a suspect who was later arrested at Menards before driving into a neighborhood in Vadnais Heights where he abandoned the truck on foot and attempted to hide in garages. 

Officers from the Maplewood Police Department and deputies found and arrested Abay for the 35th time. Authorities indicate the stolen truck was damaged and is in need of repairs before returning to the road as the result of the pursuit.