Authorities Issue Warrant for Hopkins Man Wanted in Eagan High-Speed Chase

A nationwide arrest warrant has been issued for a Hopkins man accused of cocaine possession, fleeing a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm after a high-speed chase last week in Eagan that reached speeds of 100 mph.

Charles Lamont Bryant, 36, is charged with felony drug possession, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine, and fleeing from a peace officer in a car, which has a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Eagan police stopped a car just after midnight July 21 after a routine check showed that the registered owner’s driving privileges had been revoked.

As the officer approached the car, he noticed that the driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt. The officer asked for Bryant’s driver’s license, and Bryant told him he didn’t have one just before putting the car in drive and speeding away, the complaint charges.

The officer began pursuing Bryant’s car, which was being driven without headlights at speeds of more than 100 mph, according to the complaint. Bryant eventually crashed into a guardrail on the overpass of Highway 55 where it crosses Highway 110.

When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, Bryant was not there. They found shotgun shells on the floor of the car, a shotgun with a pistol grip and a plastic bag containing 12.89 grams of cocaine.

Bryant’s lengthy criminal history includes convictions for drug possession in 1999 and 2001, first-degree burglary in 2001, second-degree assault in 2003 and fleeing from a peace officer in 2008.

Anyone with information on Bryant’s whereabouts should contact local police.