A message to drivers who attempt to flee when pulled over in Hennepin County and it's become a troubling trend: Do not flee if you've been pulled over by law enforcement.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt says they are seeing more and more people fleeing deputies who pull them over for traffic stops
"There's been times where people encountered that we've had to chase and they surprisingly would say you're not supposed to chase us," Witt told WCCO's Jordana Green Tuesday. "And so that makes you wonder like, OK, are you gonna flee because you think that law enforcement will not pursue you? Well, surprise, here we are and we're gonna continue to do what we need to do to keep people safe."
Witt says that fleeing in a motor vehicle is a serious matter.
"People should know that it is a felony to flee in a motor vehicle, a felony that can be punishable up to three years incarcerated," Witt explained.
It might be happening more than you think. Last year, more than 40 drivers took off when stopped, with near a dozen so far this year according to the sheriff.
Sheriff Dawanna Witt says this an action you absolutely should not do if you get pulled over and you're upset.
"If people feel that they were treated unfairly, if they were disrespected, if their rights were violated, then you go through the process after," says Witt. "Don't do it during a traffic stop."
Witt says her deputies have been told not get emotionally involved in the incident.
"Make the standing on you have a legal arrest, or you have a legal reason to be there," she says. "And then don't let the story be about you reacting to someone else's bad behavior or assaultive behavior, for that matter, because that's something we see all the time. People just don't talk about that part."