St. Paul man accused of driving to Cloquet to see 13-year-old he met on Snapchat

DULUTH, Min – A flat tire on the way to Minneapolis might not lead to an arrest for every driver. But if you are hiding something in your backseat, it will.

On July 10th, 2025, 25-year-old Joshua Patrick Baxter was arrested on one count of criminal sexual conduct in the first and second degree both involving a 13-year-old girl.

Earlier that day, a report of a young, female runway was made to the Cloquet Police Department. Friends reported that the victim had left to spend the weekend in Minneapolis with a friend she had met on snapchat.

At around 10:30 pm that same day, Minnesota State Patrol saw a car pulled off the side of Interstate 35, due to a flat tire. When police walked up to the vehicle. they found Baxter in the back seat with the victim.

The scene appeared to be sexual in nature. Initially, Baxter said he had only kissed the victim.

But after talking with the victim herself, investigators brought Baxter in for questioning to which they say he admitted to sexual misconduct.

Baxter posted $10,000 of his $100,000 bail and his next court appearance is set for September.