The Wright County Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence located in the 2700 block of 90th St NE in Monticello Township at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12. The caller stated that a partially clothed female had come to the front door of his residence asking to use the phone, and then ran towards a neighboring home. According to the caller the female appeared to be in physical and mental distress.
As Wright County Deputies were responding to the area Communications received a second 911 call from another residence located on the 2000 block of 90th Street Northeast. This caller advised that an unknown partially clothed female was in her home. A deputy arrived at the scene and observed a female matching the description standing outside the caller’s residence. Upon seeing the deputy, the female fled back into the residence where she then armed herself with a knife. The deputy attempted to deescalate the situation, but the female jumped through a window of the home and ran to the deputy’s squad car. The female entered the squad and then fled the area in the deputy’s vehicle.
Additional Wright County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued the female onto westbound Interstate 94 from Monticello, assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol. Up the interstate, Stearns County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to successfully deploy stop sticks near County Road 75 in Stearns County, bringing the stolen squad car to a stop.
The female fled from the vehicle and attempted to open the doors of several passing civilian vehicles that had slowed on the freeway. Law enforcement was able to take the woman into custody before she was able to get into another vehicle. The female and a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper were taken to St. Cloud Hospital and treated for minor injuries and released.
Investigators later identified the woman as Crystal Capko, 36, of Buffalo. Capko was booked into the Wright County jail on the following charges:
- Residential Burglary
- Felony Theft
- Fleeing in a Motor Vehicle
- Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Two charges of 4th Degree Assault on a Peace Officer