Charges Filed After Hermantown Police Chase

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A man told police he had to urinate before taking Hermantown Police on a miles-long midnight chase Tuesday, according to police reports.

54-year-old Justin Lee Briggs has been charged with fleeing police, after an attempted traffic stop around 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The police report said an officer attempted to stop Briggs’ vehicle because it had no front license plate. Briggs pulled alongside the officer in the Hermantown Goodwill parking lot and allegedly told the officer he had to urinate.

The officer told Briggs to stop but he instead drove out of the lot, according to the report. Hermantown Police pursued Briggs for over 11 miles before a PIT maneuver brought the vehicle to a stop near 25th Ave West and West 2nd Street in Duluth.

Briggs attempted to escape the vehicle on foot, but the report said he tripped in the snow and was arrested without further incident. When asked why he ran from police, Briggs said he did not have a valid license.