Devin, Markus Chase, 31, of Saint Paul was charged in Ramsey County District Court as the driver in a crash that caused the death of passenger Randi Lee Stone, 30, of Minneapolis around 4 p.m. Monday, February 20, on Cretin Avenue and Mississippi River Boulevard near the University of Saint Thomas.
The felony charges include two counts of criminal vehicular homicide—one for driving negligently while under the influence of a controlled substance and another for driving in a grossly negligent manner— and auto theft. Bail was set at $250,000.
Driver and passengers living in vehicle
According to the criminal complaint, Chase, Stone, her sister and two others had been living in a 2015 Nissan Rogue. The vehicle was reported stolen on February 8 from 1170 Cushing Circle just north of Energy Park Drive. The five reportedly drove to Minneapolis and bought meth and heroin on the morning of the crash. They drove around all day smoking the drugs they had purchased.
They were headed north on Cretin at a high rate of speed when they reportedly tried to turn left unto Mississippi River Boulevard, drove into oncoming traffic and collided with a Nissan Altima. The driver of the Altima crawled out and reportedly was uninjured. He said he saw an extremely upset woman walking around the Rogue.
Passenger pronounced dead at scene
When officers arrived they found Stone slumped over in the rear passenger seat of the Rogue. It appeared she was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead. Officers recovered drugs and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.
Chase was found on the ground a foot away from the driver’s side door, which was shut. The car’s airbags had deployed. A witness said two Asian females fled from the passenger side of the vehicle. Chase first told medics that the Stone’s sister had been driving and fled the scene. He later claimed that a man also living in the Rogue had been driving.
Suspect had prior convictions
Investigators went to the hospital to interview Chase and noted burns on both of his arms consistent with a steering wheel airbag being deployed. He said he had been living out of the Rogue for about two weeks. He said he assumed it was stolen, but did not know where it came.
Chase said he could not remember much about the crash. When asked if police would find his DNA or fingerprints around the driver’s compartment, Chase said his DNA would be all over the area because he had driven the vehicle before. He denied that his DNA would be on the driver’s steering wheel airbag.
Chase has a prior conviction for criminal vehicular operation for a hit-and-run while under the influence of alcohol in Anoka County. He also three prior felony convictions for theft, burglary and domestic assault, and had pending felony theft and drug cases from Hennepin County.
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