Multiple individuals have been arrested in Crystal, Minnesota, after allegedly fleeing from police following reports of a burglary. According to the police, during the chase, the suspects threw a flamethrower, of all things, at the pursuing officers.
According to a post made by the Crystal Police Department (CPD), the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 1. At the time, officers had been informed of a group of individuals that had been involved in a burglary and also in other weapons-related offenses.
The CPD agents eventually came across an SUV that matched the suspect’s description. At the time, a traffic stop was attempted.
However, the driver refused to stop the vehicle, police said. A pursuit began immediately, and shortly after, things turned to the bizarre.
Flamethrower Pursuit
As officers pursued the suspects, one of the vehicle’s occupants grabbed a sizeable item out the window and hurled it at them, police said. It is unclear whether this object made contact with any of the pursuing police patrol units.
Later, the item was recovered and was promptly identified. It was a flamethrower, which still had its pink price tag attached to it.
The CPD didn’t specify how exactly the suspects had a flamethrower in their possession. However, given how the device appeared, the suspects likely got hold of it during the reported burglary.
Suspects Arrested, Vehicle Searched
Eventually, the pursuit came to an end as officers disabled the suspects’ vehicle. A photo shared by the CPD shows that one patrol unit performed a maneuver that ended with the SUV’s front getting smashed.
A search of the vehicle was then performed. Inside, the police said that they found several weapons, including a firearm and a US-themed trench knife. Additionally, officers also recovered over 100 grams of marijuana and fentanyl.
The vehicle’s occupants were placed under arrest and booked into the Hennepin County Jail. Reportedly, the suspects had previous warrants and are now facing multiple additional, albeit unspecified, charges.
Thankfully, no officers or suspects were injured during the pursuit. The CPD has yet to disclose any of the suspects’ names.
Another Pursuit, More Bizarre Items
Just over a week before the incident described above, a man in Mesa County, Colorado, was arrested following a pursuit. According to a Mesa County Sheriff’s Office news release, the incident occurred at around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 21.
After a traffic stop proved unsuccessful, a deputy performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention maneuver. The suspect’s vehicle was disabled, but he decided to make a run for it, to no avail, the sheriff’s office said.
Michael Lenahan, 59, was placed under arrest. Inside his vehicle, authorities said that methamphetamine containers were found alongside a compound bow, a “realistic-looking BB gun,” burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia. The man is now facing 14 different charges in connection with the incident.