Fridley Police Aim to Add Assault Charge Against Resident For Veering Toward Squad

Fridley Police plan to ask for additional charges in Anoka County against a Fridley man who led police in a high-speed chase Sunday evening that ended with .

William Harragan, 20, faces charges in Hennepin County with stealing a car in Brooklyn Park and fleeing Brooklyn Center officers on Sunday. Harragan stole the car to get home, according to the criminal complaint.

After the chase crossed the river into Fridley, Harragan steered the vehicle toward an occupied Fridley squad car in the 7400 block of Baker Street NE, according to Lt. Mike Monsrud. He said the Fridley officer avoided a head-on collision by steering the squad into a parking lot.

According to the Hennepin County complaint, Harragan told officers en route to jail that "a lot of officers are going to die because of me and that's not a threat—that's a promise."

Fridley police detectives are working on a separate first-degree assault case against Barragan for trying to strike the squad car, according to Monsrud, and will send the case to the Anoka County Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.

Monsrud added that police pursuits are "extremely dangerous" for officers, suspects and the public.

"We are pleased that this pursuit ended with no substantial injuries to any of those involved," Monsrud said in an email Friday, and given Barragan’s "intentions to use his vehicle as a weapon against a police officer, we are very fortunate to have a successful outcome where no officers were injured."