Attempted suicide turns into police chase.
In a suicide attempt, appellant Aaron Patrick Olson swallowed 25 Valium pills and parked his car in a quiet, undeveloped neighborhood in Shakopee. Olson made several telephone calls to his wife and friends, announcing his intention to kill himself, hinting at his location, and stating that he would flee if police were sent. Olson’s wife notified police, who went in search of Olson.
Shakopee Police Sergeant Balfanz was the first to locate Olson. Balfanz stopped within 10 to 20 yards of Olson, planning to cordon off the area and put out stop sticks to prevent Olson from driving away. But, as Balfanz’s squad car got closer to Olson’s car, Olson revved the engine of his car, started to move slowly, then accelerated and swerved toward the squad car, even though he could have left the area by an alternate route.
Balfanz swerved to avoid a collision, and a chase ensued. Officer Christy joined the chase, driving behind Balfanz. Olson lost control of his vehicle and went off the road but managed to drive back onto the road and drove straight at Balfanz, causing Balfanz to again swerve to avoid a collision.
Olson drove away at a high speed, but spun out and stopped, again facing Balfanz’s squad car. Olson accelerated at a high rate of speed toward Balfanz’s squad car. Balfanz swerved, but the vehicles collided, temporarily disabling the squad car. Balfanz radioed other officers. Officer Christy drove around Balfanz’s squad car and pursued Olson. Officers Marquardt and Kolar joined the pursuit.
Eventually, Olson again lost control of his vehicle and slid into a ditch. Olson was apprehended and transferred by ambulance to a medical center. Marquardt, who was with Olson while he was treated, noted that Olson was not intoxicated and appeared lucid. Emergency room doctors found Olson awake and alert when he was admitted but he became increasingly somnolent, consistent with ingestion of a significant amount of Valium.
Olson was charged with (1) first-degree assault; (2) second-degree assault–dangerous weapon; (3) terroristic threats; (4) first-degree criminal damage to property; and (5) fleeing a peace officer. A jury acquitted Olson of first-degree assault and found him guilty of all other charges.
Consistent with the verdict, Olson was convicted of all of the charges except first-degree assault. He was sentenced only for second-degree assault. This appeal, challenging only the convictions of second-degree assault and terroristic threats, followed. Read the rest here.
Minnesota v. Olson, Scott County District Court File No. 70CR0628174 (full version is here.)
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