Edina Man Hit Speeds Exceeding 120 mph During Police Chase

An Edina man has been charged with leading police on a chase that reached speeds of 120 mph before he was finally forced to stop by an officer using a maneuver adapted from stock car racing.

Leslie Jay Boyd Jr., 32, 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.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Eden Prairie Police Detective Christopher Millard, an officer spotted Boyd’s car speeding on Hwy. 212 in Eden Prairie just after 8 p.m. Aug. 4. The officer, who estimated the car’s speed at more than 100 mph, turned on his lights, and Boyd pulled over and stopped at the top of the Mitchell Road exit.

However, as the officer approached the car, Boyd accelerated, causing the car’s tires to squeal, ran through a red light and headed north on Mitchell Road, the complaint charges. The officer followed, activating his emergency lights and siren, and Boyd continued to flee, reportedly reaching speeds of 120 mph.

Boyd blew through another red light and headed east on Hwy. 212, then went east on Shady Oak Road before heading east on Hwy. 62, at which point other officers joined the pursuit. On Hwy. 62, an Edina police officer used stop sticks, but Boyd turned onto Hwy. 100, still going more than 100 mph even after his car lost a front tire, according to the complaint.

Police continued to pursue Boyd as he exited onto Edina Industrial Boulevard, went through a red light and turned onto eastbound 77th Street, speeding through residential neighborhoods, weaving through traffic and narrowly missing other cars as he approached France Avenue, the complaint charges.

Boyd continued south on France Avenue before he was stopped by an officer using a precision immobilization technique (PIT), in which an officer pulls alongside a fleeing vehicle and gently makes contact with the suspect’s car, then steers sharply into the vehicle, causing it to lose traction and skid.

Boyd was arrested at France Avenue and American Boulevard in Bloomington. He told officers that he fled because of outstanding arrest warrants, according to the complaint.

Boyd was released from jail on his promise to make all future court appearances. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Sept. 14 in Hennepin County District Court.

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