Suspect jumps off bridge in Mendota Heights in attempt to escape police

A suspect was captured on traffic cameras in Mendota Heights exiting a vehicle, running from an officer and jumping off an overpass bridge in an attempt to evade arrest during a traffic stop Sunday afternoon.

A Minnesota Department of Transportation camera captured the incident around 5:41 p.m. on Interstate 35E between Sibley Memorial Highway and Highway 62. The driver steps out of the car and is placed in handcuffs by law enforcement. Then, another person is seen exiting the front passenger seat and running across the bridge.

They run for a short distance, with an officer in dispute, and then leap over the bridge onto the roadway below

Eagan Police Admin. Sgt. Rich Evans said they received a call around 5:30 p.m. reporting a theft at Best Buy. No pursuit was engaged, but officers later found the suspect's vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.

Evans said the man who jumped over the overpass was taken to Regions Hospital to treat an undisclosed injury. The woman who was with him was arrested and has pending charges of theft and obstructing the legal process.

The man will be charged with the same counts once he is out of the hospital.