Columbia Heights scene of crash May 7, 2022

Woman charged after ramming squad, fleeing, and crashing in Columbia Heights

By Crime Watch MN, May 13, 2022

A Morton, Minnesota, woman evaded capture for over four hours last Saturday after ramming a squad, then fleeing police in a stolen vehicle, crashing, and fleeing again on foot.

Margrette June Balsley, 23, has been charged in Anoka County with felony counts of first-degree damage to property, theft of a motor vehicle, and fleeing police in a motor vehicle. Balsley also faces one misdemeanor count of fleeing police on foot related to the incident.

Margrette June Balsley / Anoka County Jail

The scene played out in Columbia Heights just after 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7. An officer while on routine patrol came upon a vehicle in a dead-end area of the parking lot of an apartment building on the 4700 block of Central Avenue Northeast. After running a check on the license plate of the Mazda, the officer learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen, according to the criminal complaint.

The officer noticed movement inside the vehicle and saw that it was occupied by a female driver, later identified as Balsley. The officer’s squad was parked behind the Mazda and the officer saw the driver glance into the rearview mirror before the reverse lights came on. The officer activated her emergency lights because it looked as if the Mazda was going to back into the squad. The driver quickly backed the Mazda into the squad striking it. The Mazda subsequently faced the squad and accelerated again striking the front of the officer’s vehicle as she attempted to move from the driver’s path.

The officer was able to provide a description of the female driver as well as the passenger to other officers. The officer’s vehicle was heavily damaged and had to be taken out of service for repairs.

The Mazda fled the parking lot and was followed by other Columbia Heights officers. As the driver fled police, she approached the 4200 block of Central Avenue Northeast, weaving between vehicles where she then struck a minivan that contained a mother and her four children inside.

The minivan that contained a family struck by Balsley

Balsley lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a yard on the west side of the 4200 block of Central Avenue Northeast. Both Balsley and the male passenger fled the vehicle and a police search perimeter ensued. Police were able to locate the male passenger after about 45 minutes, but Balsley was not immediately located.

The stolen vehicle Balsley was driving after it crashed

At approximately 11:25 p.m. that same evening, officers were dispatched for a report of female hiding in bushes near a church located at 4200 Central Avenue Northeast. Police detained Balsley, and the original officer was able to view bodycam video of that service call and positively identify Balsley as the driver of the Mazda that had rammed her squad.

Balsley made a first court appearance on the charges on Tuesday and was granted a public defender. She remains in custody on $100,000 bail without conditions or $30,000 with conditions. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Minnesota court records show that Balsley has 15 prior convictions on mostly petty misdemeanor driving violations, as well as four misdemeanor convictions on fifth degree assault, theft and liquor consumption.

Balsley was recently granted a statutory stay of adjudication in March on a felony narcotics case in Renville County. She was placed on supervised probation for a term of three years and is required to remain law abiding. Balsley also has two open warrants for theft out of Scott County.

The male passenger from the vehicle appears to have been briefly booked and released without tickets or charges. The booking record indicates that additional charges are being considered for the male, and he may be charged at a later date.

(Crime scene photos submitted/posted by Crime Watch followers)

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