Apple Valley Retail Theft Leads to Brief Pursuit and Arrests
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - A theft in progress at the Walmart in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on June 13, 2024, escalated into a brief pursuit involving Apple Valley Officers and two suspects, ultimately leading to multiple arrests and felony charges.
According to the criminal complaint from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, the incident began when store employees reported a woman, later identified as Haylee Dawn Sullivan, 23, of Lakeville, had allegedly concealed merchandise and attempted to leave without paying. Sullivan entered the passenger side of a vehicle driven by Brandon Donald Houle, 33, of Faribault. Law enforcement officers arrived as the vehicle exited the parking lot. Police activated emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, but Houle accelerated, refusing to pull over. After a brief pursuit, officers managed to stop Houle’s vehicle by surrounding it with squad cars.
As officers arrested Houle, Sullivan allegedly moved into the driver’s seat and drove off, striking a squad car in the process. Despite attempts to stop her, Sullivan evaded officers after the pursuit was called off for safety reasons.
Charges and Sentencing
Houle and Sullivan were both charged with Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle, a felony punishable by a maximum of three years and one day in prison and/or fines up to $5,000.
Houle would eventually plead guilty to fleeing a peace officer and was convicted on July 11, 2024. His sentence included:
29 days in jail (credited for time served)
3 years of supervised probation, contingent on completing an intake process and complying with probation terms
Probation Violation and Arrest Warrant
Following his sentencing, Houle failed to complete the intake process as required by probation conditions. On August 9, 2024, Dakota County Community Corrections recommended revoking Houle’s probation, which the court approved. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Houle was subsequently taken into custody on October 11, 2024, when the warrant was served. It appears he was given 12 days of local confinement, with seven of those days he received as time served. He still has three years of probation he must complete.
Sullivan’s Active Case
Sullivan also faces felony charges of fleeing a peace officer. Her court case is ongoing after her warrant was served by the Hennepin County Sheriff on November 15th. Her first court appearance was on November 18th, with her next court date set for December 11, 2024, at 9 AM in Hastings, Minnesota. Sullivan currently remains in Dakota County Jail, with bail set at $25,000 without conditions and $20,000 with conditions following her reckless behavior.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Sullivan, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Written by: Will Wight
Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash