Charges Filed Against Woodbury Burglary Suspect

A North St. Paul man suspected in a Woodbury burglary was charged Jan. 24 in Ramsey County court.

Noah Erickson, 28, was charged with one count of drug possession and one count of fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint, Woodbury police went to St. Paul on Jan. 22 to investigate a suspect connected to a burglary at Walmart. Officers watched the suspect, later identified as Erickson. However, before contact was made, Erickson "left the area, driving erratically," according to a statement from the Woodbury Police Department.

Erickson's car struck an unmarked police SUV and an unoccupied parked car before becoming lodged in a snow bank near the intersection of White Bear and Case avenues, according to the police statement.

As officers attempted to take Erickson in to custody, he did not respond to their verbal commands to stop, and continued to actively attempt to put his car in motion in the direction of officers.

It was at this point Woodbury police detective Jeff Zerwas, a 19-year veteran of the force, shot twice at Erickson's tires in attempt to stop the vehicle.

According to police, Erickson allegedly resisted arrest, but was eventually taken into custody. A BB gun, as well as a backpack containing laptop computers and suspected methamphetamine were among items police recovered.

Erickson was booked in Ramsey County for active arrest warrants that include stalking and theft of a motor vehicle.

He will likely face additional charges, according to the Woodbury Police Department statement.

Because Zerwas discharged his weapon an independent investigation into the incident will be conducted by the St. Paul Police Department. By policy, any discharge of a firearm by an on-duty Woodbury Police Department employee will be investigated.

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