There are plenty of police departments that post straightforward press releases after an arrest. Others occasionally decide to have a little fun while still getting the point across.
The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office recently chose the second option. Instead of a traditional incident summary, deputies published an open letter addressed directly to a suspect who led them on a dangerous, high-speed pursuit through the county.
While the post is packed with sarcasm, it also details a pursuit that topped 100 mph, ended with Stop Sticks, and even included one unexpected twist: the suspect livestreamed part of the chase on Facebook.
Safe to say, that’s one way to create evidence against yourself.
Lane Violations Turned Into a Triple-Digit Police Pursuit
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According to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began with what should have been a routine traffic stop for lane and equipment violations.
Deputies said the driver avoided eye contact, mumbled responses, and appeared more interested in staring at a cellphone than speaking with the deputy. Before the stop could be completed, the driver allegedly sped away, beginning a pursuit through Chisago County.
Authorities say the suspect exceeded 100 mph, threw trash from the vehicle, and even turned off the headlights while weaving across traffic lanes. Fortunately, deputies noted the pursuit occurred in the middle of the night when traffic was light.
Deputies Say the Suspect Livestreamed the Pursuit
Perhaps the most unusual part of the incident came after the pursuit was already underway.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect allegedly livestreamed portions of the chase on Facebook, prompting deputies to joke that most people use the platform for vacation photos or family updates, while the suspect instead chose to “provide evidence.”
During the livestream, the suspect reportedly claimed deputies were attempting to perform a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver. The sheriff’s office responded that no PIT maneuver was attempted.
Instead, deputies deployed Stop Sticks, successfully disabling the vehicle and ending the pursuit.
The Sheriff’s Office Had One Final Message
Following the arrest, deputies say the suspect argued that law enforcement should have ended the pursuit because of the dangerous way the suspect was driving.
The sheriff’s office didn’t agree.
In the tongue-in-cheek letter, deputies wrote that creating more danger isn’t “the magic phrase that makes deputies go away,” adding that it’s often exactly why they remain committed to apprehending fleeing suspects before someone gets hurt.
Officials also alleged the suspect ingested methamphetamine before being taken into custody, another detail they referenced in the post with a sarcastic warning that it was not a wellness plan they would recommend.
The sheriff’s office closed the message by thanking the suspect for reminding the public why pursuits matter, saying the goal is to remove dangerous drivers from the road before their reckless decisions injure someone else.
Readers Couldn’t Get Enough of the “Dear Criminal” Letter
Commenters loved the sheriff’s office’s sarcastic “Dear Criminal” letter almost as much as they appreciated the arrest itself. Dozens of people joked that whoever wrote the post deserved a raise, with comments like “Whoever wrote this needs a raise,” “10 out of 10 for the social media content creator!” and “Please never stop being the PR person” appearing throughout the thread.
Several people asked the sheriff’s office to release the dashcam or even the suspect’s alleged Facebook livestream, saying they wanted to see how the pursuit unfolded for themselves. Others laughed at the idea that the suspect allegedly believed turning off the headlights would help him escape or that he argued deputies should have stopped chasing him because of his own reckless driving.
Beyond the humor, plenty of commenters thanked the deputies for taking a dangerous driver off the road. Many said they follow the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office specifically because of posts like this, praising the agency’s ability to mix comedy with serious public safety messaging while still recognizing the dangers of a pursuit that exceeded 100 mph.