HUDSON — A suspect wanted for kidnapping and sexual assault led law enforcement agencies on a dangerous, high-speed chase that began in the Twin Cities and ended in a crash near Hudson last Wednesday afternoon.
According to a news release provided by the St.Croix County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County, MN Sheriff’s Office contacted the St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center last Wednesday, November 13 and stated that Washington County Sheriffs along with the U.S. Marshalls were in pursuit of an alleged stolen black truck with a suspect who was wanted for kidnapping and sexual assault.
The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office was also made aware that the suspect, who was later identified as 51-year-old Jeffrey Morgan Groves, had threatened to kill police.
The suspect’s vehicle was going eastbound in the westbound lanes of Hwy 36 in Washington County, MN and eventually entered St. Croix County.
The truck hit a ditch at mile marker two on STH 35/64 and eventually worked its way out and headed southbound on STH 35.
Groves then traveled through the Village of North Hudson and the City of Hudson with speeds up to 70 m.p.h. and had partially hit “Stop Sticks”, however he continued without stopping.
The truck eventually went on the westbound off-ramp of I-94 and entered the interstate going eastbound in the westbound lanes.
Deputies were traveling on the eastbound lanes of I-94 following Groves until he exited on the westbound on-ramp for STH 35 and continued southbound in the northbound lanes of 35.
A Washington County Deputy performed a “Pursuit Intervention Technique” that forced the Grove’s vehicle to collide with a vehicle on the east shoulder of 35 and continued into a ditch south of Tower Road.
Groves was taken into custody by law enforcement and transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul by Lakeview EMS and the custody of U.S. Marshalls Office.
The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is investigating any criminal acts done by the suspect in Wisconsin and the crash is being investigated by Wisconsin State Patrol.
According to Twin Cities’ media outlets, the chase began Wednesday afternoon near Newport, MN when the North Star Fugitive Task Force in conjunction with the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force attempted to arrest Groves.
A press release from the St. Louis Park, MN Police Department said the Groves had been wanted since early November after a woman reported that he broke in to her home and sexually assaulted her and then forced her to accompany him to some ATM machines to make cash withdrawals.
