Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

St. Louis County Sheriff's Office News Release

Incident Date:

8/2/2021

Incident Time:  10:20 pm

Incident location: 

St. Louis County Courthouse 300 5th Ave. South Virginia, MN 

Click to edit this placeholder text.

INDIVIDUAL(S) INVOLVED: (Refer to News Media Policy-Rules III A. I Thru 4: Procedures B.1, A thru J & 1; 2b; 3b; g & h; 4a, b, & c)

Name: Joshua Paul Harjamaki

Name:

Name:

Age: 21

Age:

Age:

Address: Hibbing, MN

Address:

Address:

Click to edit this placeholder text.

Incident Summary: 

On August 2^nd, 2021 at approximately 10:20 PM a St. Louis County Sheriff’s patrol squad parked outside the County Courthouse complex in Virginia was stolen.  The squad, which was thought to be locked, was left parked with the engine running by a Deputy who then momentarily entered the Sheriff’s Office.  A short time later, it was discovered the squad car had been stolen.  The Sheriff’s Office was able to locate the stolen squad using GPS technology and track it while it was being driven through the City of Virginia. 

A Virginia Police Officer located the stolen squad being driven near Southern Dr. in Virginia and attempted to stop the suspect, who was later identified as HARJAMAKI.   HARJAMAKI refused to stop for the Virginia Officer and a pursuit of the stolen squad ensued.  During the pursuit, HARJAMAKI brandished a firearm out the driver’s window.  He eventually threw or dropped the firearm out of the window, which assisting squads were able to immediately retrieve.  The recovered firearm was confirmed to be a shotgun from the stolen squad.

The pursuit continued briefly through the City of Virginia and then out of town as HARJAMAKI  continued Northbound on Hwy. 53 onto Hwy. 169 towards Tower, MN.  Additional St. Louis County Sheriff’s squads assisted Virginia Police during the pursuit, which then ended on Hwy. 169 in Pike township after a St. Louis County Deputy executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver.  HARJAMAKI  was taken into custody by the Virginia Police Dept. following the pursuit. He was the only occupant in the stolen squad. HARJAMAKI  was lodged at the St. Louis County jail in Virginia, MN pending formal charges. There were no reported injuries as a result of the pursuit, however the stolen squad sustained heavy damage as a result of the incident and PIT maneuver. 

Harjamaki photo attached.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

Authority:  Lt. Jason Akerson  218-749-7176    Joshua Harjamaki.jpg

Date:      8/3/2021                        Time: 11:50 AM

Additional Information or Update:

Click to edit this placeholder text.

Authority:                                                       Date:                        Time: