Suspect in deadly Minneapolis crash had many driving-related convictions on record

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The man who police say nearly struck a police officer with his car in north Minneapolis before crashing into another car and killing its driver had numerous convictions for driving-related offenses on his criminal record. In fact, he was sentenced less than one month ago for fleeing police.

The incident began around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday night. Police said officers responded to a report of two suspicious vehicles near the 3300 block of Aldrich Avenue North. While one of the officers was speaking with one of the drivers, the other driver sped off, nearly hitting the officer. 

Police went after the man’s vehicle, which crashed into several cars a few blocks away at 36th Avenue North and Aldrich Avenue North. The driver of one of the cars, a white Cadillac, was hit died from his injuries. 

Police arrested the suspect, a 27-year-old Brooklyn Park man, and booked him into the Hennepin County Jail on pending murder charges. FOX 9 does not identify suspects who have not been formally charged. 

According to court records, the suspect has a long list of driving-related convictions, including five for speeding, one for driving on a suspended license and nine for driving after his license was revoked.

The suspect was most recently convicted for fleeing police in a motor vehicle. He was sentenced less than a month ago, but a Hennepin County judge signed off on a stayed sentence after spending only three days in the workhouse. 

Victim killed just blocks from home

Family members identified the victim as Jose Angel Mardrid Salcido. He was killed just two blocks from his home. 

Salcido’s son, Marcos Madrid Zapata, said his father was an innocent victim of the chaotic chain of crashes. 

“I was laying on the couch sleeping,” he said. “I heard first crash, second crash, then the third crash was our car.” 

Zapata watched as police arrested the suspect right in front of his father's now dented and scratched up white Cadillac. 

“I don’t understand why this happen," he said. "This problem, what’s in your mind? It’s crazy.”

Investigators remained on the scene of the crash Thursday morning. They are still looking for the other vehicle involved in the initial suspicious vehicles report.