by Kyle Hooten
A man who shot at police because he was “frustrated” after driving drunk with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat had his bail reduced from $5 million to $100,000.
Pablo Nava Jaimes, 30, allegedly fired at least 10 rounds at police during a pursuit while leaving a barbecue after “8 or 9 beers” on June 5, according to a criminal complaint. The report also states he “took full responsibility” for the shooting after he was apprehended.
The pursuit began when a state trooper observed an Oldsmobile Cutlass “speeding and driving on the shoulder of Interstate 35E.” When the officer turned on his lights, the Cutlass “fled at speeds near 100 miles per hour” while “the driver fired a shot at [the] trooper.”
The vehicle exited the interstate and White Bear Lake police took over the chase while a State Patrol helicopter monitored from above. The vehicle then “slowed nearly to a stop and fired multiple shots” at White Bear Lake police, per the complaint. “The helicopter saw muzzle flashes that appeared to come from the driver’s side of the Cutlass … [and] officers later recovered 9 spent 5.56 caliber casings.”
The helicopter then observed two people fleeing from the vehicle as one threw a gun over a fence. Both people were apprehended quickly after and “both resisted arrest,” per the complaint. Both people were also taken to the hospital, Jaimes because he was bitten by a K9 during his arrest and his wife because she complained of stomach pain and is pregnant.
Jaimes told police his wife had nothing to do with the violence and had actually “screamed at him to stop shooting.” He also “said he was sorry” and “acknowledged that he risked injuring or killing the officers when he shot at them.” He did not, however, “know how many times he shot at pursuing officers because he was drunk.”
“The defendant didn’t know why he fired at officers, but he said he was frustrated with law enforcement for not doing anything in the past when his property had been vandalized,” the complaint says.
According to the complaint, Jaimes had a warrant out for his arrest stemming from a prior traffic stop. During that incident, he was found with open bottles of beer and a handgun in his car and meth in his wallet.
KSTP reports that it was Ramsey County Judge Kellie Charles who reduced Jaimes’ bail to $100,000 during his first court appearance last week. Charles was appointed to the bench in August 2020 by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
The Ramsey County jail told Alpha News that Jaimes was still in custody as of Monday afternoon.
The most a bondsman can legally charge Jaimes to post his bail is $10,000 (10%), although many bondsman offer significantly lower rates. Liberal groups like the Minnesota Freedom Fund also post bail for free, even for violent offenders like child rapists.
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Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
Background Photo “Courtroom” by Karen Neoh. CC BY 2.0.
