Driver Arrested for Excessive Speeding and Fleeing Peace Officer in Dakota County
Dakota County, Minnesota—In a recent incident that unfolded on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Dakota County, Minnesota, law enforcement encountered a reckless driving incident that resulted in the arrest of Dominik Nikko Boots-Ringoen, aged 20, on charges of excessive speeding and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. This marks another troubling chapter in Boots-Ringoen's legal history, adding to a prior conviction stemming from a fatal crash in 2020.
According to court documents from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, the events leading to Boots-Ringoen's arrest on Sunday, May 5th, occurred around 9:00 PM, when a Dakota County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was stationed on Highway 52 near 180th Street in Vermillion Township, Minnesota. The sergeant reportedly employed radar monitoring and detected a vehicle traveling at an alarming speed of 104 MPH, significantly exceeding the 65 MPH limit of the zone. As the vehicle, described as a small 4-door silver/grey passenger car, approached the patrol vehicle, the radar tone intensified before abruptly dropping off, indicating the vehicle passed/was no longer being detected by the radar. As the vehicle passed the car, it was reported that the sergeant saw the vehicle briefly break, and a subsequent radar reading from the front of the car confirmed the vehicle's speed had decreased to around 98 MPH after passing the sergeant’s squad.
Court documents state that the sergeant pulled out to catch up to the vehicle and activated his emergency lights and siren, signaling the attempt to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle accelerated, reaching speeds exceeding 100 MPH per the squad’s front radar. As the car fled law enforcement, the vehicle was reported to turn onto 190th Street, ignoring a stop sign, before eventually pulling into a driveway at Shady Avenue North. As the sergeant reportedly approached, the suspect, described as a slender male with a clean-shaven bald head and later identified as Boots-Ringoen, exited the driver's seat and fled into a nearby residence. Court documents report that the sergeant spoke with an adult female ("Witness") who came to the door and revealed conflicting information regarding the suspected driver's whereabouts; ultimately, Boots-Ringoen was taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed that, according to court documents, Boots-Ringoen, who possessed a limited license restricted to commuting to and from work, was purportedly returning home from his employment at Dominos. The vehicle in question was registered to a friend of the Witness. The Witness had permission to drive the car, with the Witness extending that permission to Boots-Ringoen, court documents stated.
Court documents show that Boots-Ringoen now faces felony charges for fleeing police in a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum sentence of 0-3 years plus one day and/or fines ranging from $1,500.00 to $5,000.00. Given Boots-Ringoen's prior conviction related to a fatal crash in 2020, these charges carry additional weight and implications. As of writing this article, court records show his bond of $25,000 with conditions was posted. His next court date is May 23, 2024, in Hastings, Minnesota. Boots-Ringoen is considered innocent until proven guilty of these new charges despite his previous convictions.
August 2020 Fatal Crash and Conviction
In December 2021, Dominik Boots-Ringoen, who was 19 at the time, received a sentence of 365 days in jail and up to 10 years of supervised probation for his involvement in a fatal crash that occurred on August 27, 2020. The crash resulted in the death of 17-year-old James Joseph Amarosa III and injuries to three others. Boots-Ringoen, who lacked a valid license and faced a pending DWI charge, admitted to drinking before losing control of the car while it was assumed he was drifting. The car veered off the road on 795th Avenue and struck a tree. Court records show his preliminary BAC was 0.070, but a second breath test would later show his BAC was 0.55. He would end up pleading guilty to Criminal Vehicular Homicide - Operating a Motor Vehicle in a Grossly Negligent Manner.
Dakota County Jail
Written by: Will Wight
Cover Photo Credit by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash
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