UPDATE: Name of Suspect Released in Roseville Police Fleeing Death

UPDATE (11:50 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12): The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office has issued a release identifying the man who died after trying to escape Roseville Police during a traffic stop this weekend. 

Andrew Paul Heim, 37, Minneapolis died after he jumped into Farrel's Lake in Arden Hills while trying to elude arrest. 

Heim drowned, the examiner's office said. 

According to the Minnesota Judicial System website, Heim had been convicted of several misdemeanor crimes and felony fifth degree drug possession in the past. He has no history of violent crime on his record. 

His last conviction came earlier this year, when he was convicted of driving a vehicle without special plates in February. He was sentenced to 10 days community service. 

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ORIGINAL REPORT

The Roseville Police Department issued the following statement early Sunday morning regarding the death of a suspect who was fleeing from being apprehended by law enforcement officials:

"The Roseville Police Department is investigating the death of an unknown male who is believed to have drowned while attempting to escape police apprehension after a 3-mile police motor vehicle pursuit and single vehicle crash near the intersection of County Road E2 and Cleveland Avenue located in the city of Arden Hills.

The incident began at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2013 when a Roseville police officer initiated a traffic stop north bound on Cleveland Avenue at Oakcrest Avenue on a passenger motor vehicle for a tail light equipment violation.

The officer reports the suspect vehicle initially slowed but failed to stop for the squad’s emergency flashing lights. As the suspect vehicle continued to travel north on Cleveland, the vehicle increased its speed which resulted in the officer initiating a pursuit and notifying the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center.

The suspect vehicle continued to increase its speed at it traveled north on Cleveland towards County Road E2. Pursuing officers began slowing and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle as they approached the “T” intersection at County Road E2.

Believing the suspect vehicle had fled east on County Road E2, officers patrolled the area to the east but eventually returned when told the suspect vehicle had crashed into a wooded area north of “T” intersection.

Officers located the abandoned suspect vehicle in the wooded area north of the intersection and immediately began a canine track. The canine track let officers to the south side of Ferrel’s Lake. As officers illuminated the lake surface with their flashlights, they could see the suspect approximately 50 yards from the shoreline. Officers ordered the suspect to the shoreline but he refused and responded with expletives.

It appeared the suspect was having difficulty staying afloat so four Roseville police officers removed their duty belts, heavy vests and boots and swam to the area the suspect was last seen. Officers took turns diving and searching for the suspect in approximately 20 feet of muddy water. After approximately 5-minutes, officers returned to the shoreline and requested water rescue.

At approximately 10:15 p.m. the New Brighton and Lake Johanna Fire Department Water Rescue Teams recovered the body of a Caucasian male approximately 50 yards from the shoreline.

The body was immediately transported by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased has since been transported to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine identification, cause of death and notify next of kin.

The suspect vehicle has been towed from the crash scene and is being held for investigations. The suspect vehicle was without license plates and appears to have been purchased in recent days.

The Roseville Police Department continues to investigate this incident and will provide additional information once the department learns the suspect’s identity and cause of death."

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