Rochester Man Accused of 2 Fleeing Police Incidents Over 2 Days

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man accused of crashing a pickup truck into a law enforcement vehicle early Monday has been charged in connection with a different police chase that occurred last weekend.

The criminal complaint against 27-year-old James Michael Kenyon says he was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by an Olmsted County deputy shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday in Eyota. The court document says the registered owner of the vehicle had a driving status of canceled—inimical to public safety.

Passenger Stole Vehicle

According to the criminal complaint, the driver exited the vehicle while the deputy was confirming the registration and insurance information in his squad car. As the driver was walking toward the squad car, the deputy observed the passenger get into the driver’s seat before speeding away from the scene as the driver yelled that the vehicle was stolen and that the deputy should pursue it.

Photo by Andy Brownell TSM Rochester

Crashed Into Squad Car

Two days later, the Sheriff’s Office issued a statement concerning an incident in Byron. A spokesperson indicated deputies attempted a traffic stop after spotting Kenyon driving a pickup truck they recognized as stolen. That led to a chase into Mantorville, where Kenyon allegedly drove the pickup into the driver-side door of a squad car when deputies attempted to box him in.

The collision was strong enough to activate the squad car’s airbag, resulting in minor injuries to the deputy.

After Kenyon was taken into custody, the Sheriff’s Office reported that an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine was found on his person.

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Previous Prison Sentence

Court records show Kenyon was given a five-year prison sentence in 2024 after he was convicted of felony motor vehicle theft and illegal possession of a firearm. He was released last November after enrolling in a state “boot camp-style” program for qualified inmates.

New Charges

He has now been charged with felony counts of motor vehicle theft and fleeing police, along with misdemeanor counts of obstruction and driving after revocation. Kenyon’s bail is set at $100,000.

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