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Man struck by driver of stolen pickup dies from his injuries
A criminal complaint says 21-year-old Bradley Johnson ran a red light after ingesting heroin, violently crashing into a vehicle driven by Chris Vyskocil of Becker.
SHERBURNE COUNTY, Minn. — Charges are likely to be upgraded against a Montrose man already facing serious consequences for allegedly causing a serious multi-vehicle crash while driving high in a stolen vehicle.
Prosecutors in Sherburne County have already filed seven felony counts against 21-year-old Bradley Johnson in the incident, which happened just off Highway 10 in Becker July 6. Those charges include criminal vehicular operation, fleeing a police officer and operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance.
Those charges could soon include criminal vehicular homicide, after the driver of a vehicle Johnson struck, Christopher Vyskocil, reportedly died of his injuries Monday. A post on a GoFundMe page started for Vyskocil’s family says Chris “was fully restored and entered through the pearly gates.”
“My family is absolutely devastated with this loss,” reads a statement attributed to Vyskocil’s wife Brittany. “Because Chris was the victim of such a horrendous crime, the process for justice is going to be lengthy and tedious. We’re going to need the love and support for the long haul. Hold your loved ones extra super close for me. Hug them, tell them you love them, and don’t let things from the past stop you from doing so. We have learned first hand just how truly short life can be.”
Court documents say just before 3 p.m. on July 6, Minnesota state troopers and deputies from the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office were informed that a Dodge Ram pickup reported stolen in St. Cloud was headed eastbound on Highway 10. Squads observed the pickup and initiated a pursuit, with the person behind the wheel of the truck accelerating to speeds in excess of 100 mph.
Eventually, officers say the driver – identified as Bradley Johnson – turned off the highway and triggered a violent crash involving three other vehicles. Behind the wheel of one of those cars was 36-year-old Christopher Vyskocil of Becker, who suffered severe head trauma. Vyskocil was airlifted to a hospital with injuries that would eventually claim his life.
The drivers of the two other vehicles involved in the crash were not seriously injured.
Officers on scene said Johnson made comments indicating he had ingested heroin that morning. A piece of tinfoil with suspected drug residue and a burnt straw/tube was found in the pocket of his pants. A blood sample taken from the defendant is still being analyzed.
Preliminary evidence indicates Johnson entered the intersection of Highway 10 and Liberty Lane against a red light, causing the crash.
The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a plan to shut down the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) on Thursday.
The resolution comes after decades of protests against the massive North Loop trash incinerator that burns roughly 365,000 tons of garbage a year.
“Today is a big step towards protecting the health of our communities and addressing longstanding environmental injustices that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said councilmember Robin Wonsley, in a statement.
The resolution calls for the incinerator to be permanently closed by Dec 31, 2027 and for the entire facility to be shut down by Dec 31, 2033.
The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
In October 2023, the Hennepin County Board signed off on a plan to close the HERC between 2028 and 2040, depending on how quickly the county can transition into a zero-waste system.
Of the garbage burned at the HERC, 75% comes from the city of Minneapolis. The other 25% comes from a dozen other cities in the area. The HERC produces enough energy to power more than 25,000 homes and half the buildings in downtown Minneapolis.
At a City Council Meeting on Oct. 10, Jenni Lansing with the City of Minneapolis Health Department provided analysis on the air pollution impacts of HERC. She said the health department supports working towards a zero-waste future and the ultimate closure of HERC, but said closing it now is not the solution.
“Overall emissions in Hennepin County are dominated by on-road and non-road, mobile and nonpoint sources, and these sources drive the cancer and non-cancer risks to health in Minneapolis,” Lansing said.
Hennepin County defines zero waste as preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The snow is really coming down in some places with Maple Lake getting 3.5″ so far.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The wettest Halloween storm ever — is making mischief before little trick-or-treaters hit their neighborhood’s slushy streets.
Officials are reporting several power outages and car spin-outs.
There have been over 14,000 power outages, according to Xcel Energy.
The Minnesota State Patrol has responded to 169 crashes and 94 vehicles off the road, as of 2. pm. Thursday.
Meteorologist Beny Dery said an additional 1 to 2″ of snow is possible before things taper off this evening.
So far some of the totals around town are: 3.5″ Maple Lake, 3.0″ Buffalo, 2.5″ Dassel, 2.4″ Windom, 2.0″ St. Bonifacious, 1.5″ Maple Plain and 1.5″ in Bethel.
The snow is expected to let up from west to east and should wrap up for the metro between 5 to 6 p.m.
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
