Man Who Crashed Into Kids At Minneapolis Park Pleads Guilty

TWIN CITIES, MN — Kabaar Powell Jr., who led police on a high speed chase and crashed into two children in a park, pleaded guilty to the top counts against him, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Thursday.

Squad car video showed the father trying to gather up his children to flee the basketball court, but had only seconds to do it, police said.

"Mr. Powell’s reckless actions seriously injured one child, hurt another and had the potential to cause even greater damage since there were other children playing at the park with their dad," Freeman said in a statement.

"This didn’t have to happen, but we are pleased that Mr. Powell pleaded guilty and agreed to the aggravating factors in this case, which will allow for a more severe sentence than called for by the Minnesota sentencing guidelines."

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Powell, 27, pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to one count of feeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle resulting in great bodily harm and a second count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle resulting in substantial bodily harm. He is expected to be sentenced to 21 months in prison for the first count and 12 months for the second count, to be served consecutively.

As part of the plea agreement, Powell agreed there were factors which allow for a more severe sentence.

According to the criminal complaint, on the morning of June 11, Minnesota state troopers saw a car going faster than the 60 mph speed limit on Interstate 94 at 46th Avenue in Minneapolis. When they tried to stop the driver, later identified as Powell, a high-speed chase ensued, lasting approximately six minutes and reaching speeds above 80 mph, police said.

Powell ran at least 22 stop signs as he sped through a residential neighborhood, according to authorities.

He turned into Bohannon Park, near the 5000 block of Dupont Ave. North, and drove onto a basketball court where the two young victims, two and four years old, were playing basketball with their dad and other siblings.

Powell struck the two children and then crashed into a piece of playground equipment.

He got out of the car and fled on foot. He was apprehended by police a short time later.

Powell will be sentenced on August 16.

Victims

• Kayden Jay Peltier, 2, suffered life-threatening injuries.
• Lillianna Lee Peltier, 4, also suffered life-threatening injuries.
• Konnor Jace Peltier, 3, suffered non-life threatening injuries

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