Twin Cities Felon With History of Felony Vehicle Caught After Fleeing Deputies in NE Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A convicted felon from the Twin Cities is facing charges after failing to elude law enforcement in northeast Rochester. 

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The criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Olmsted County Court says the incident happened Monday evening. 

It started when an Olmsted County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted a vehicle with stolen license plates during a random license plate check in the area of North Broadway Ave. and 37th St. Northeast, the court filing says. 

The deputy stopped the vehicle, determined to have been driven by 46-year-old Darnell Dion Hamilton of St. Paul, in a nearby parking lot. The charges say Hamilton did not comply with the deputy’s instruction and drove away from the area, which then triggered a search which involved multiple officers.

 A deputy who joined the effort found the suspect vehicle abandoned in the 1500 block of 15th Ave. Northeast. The deputy found license plates belonging to Hamilton inside of the vehicle, the charges say. 

About a half hour after the initial traffic stop, authorities learned that Hamilton had been taken into custody. The charges do not describe his apprehension. 

Hamilton is facing a felony fleeing charge as well as misdemeanor counts for vehicle registration violation and driving with a revoked license. The judge in the case set his bail at $20,000 without conditions. 

Court records indicate Hamilton has multiple felony convictions in connection with stolen vehicle cases in the Twin Cities. He’s due back in court later this month.