Body Cam Footage From Robbinsdale Police Chase Released

ROBBINSDALE, MN — Following renewed pressure and protests from activists this week, the Robbinsdale Police Department on Tuesday released body camera footage from a July 2022 police chase of a man whose body was later discovered in Crystal Lake.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also announced this week that it will conduct an independent investigation of the incident.

Khalil Azad, 24, died as a result of freshwater drowning, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

On July 3 just before 1:30 a.m., Robbinsdale officers tried to make a DWI traffic stop on the 4200 block of County Road 81, according to the police department

The vehicle did not pull over and a pursuit was initiated, officers said. The driver — later identified as Azad — lost control of the vehicle on the 3900 block of Lakeland Ave North, according to police.

Azad fled "and was never located despite a search of the area by the Robbinsdale Police Department with the assistance of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, neighboring agencies, and the Minnesota State Patrol Flight Division," according to Robbinsdale police.

"Based on a review of body-worn camera footage, Robbinsdale police officers did not have any contact with the person who fled the scene. Officers did speak with the two passengers who were in the vehicle and neither passenger identified the driver. Two days after the traffic stop, a body of a male was recovered in Crystal Lake by a citizen."

On July 5 just before 1 p.m., police responded after a body — later identified as Azad — was found in Crystal Lake near the shoreline.

"Officers arrived on scene and located a male who was face down in the water," police said. "The male was determined to be deceased on scene."