A Saint Paul police officer was caught off guard Sunday night. He was giving sobriety tests to a woman he had pulled over, when a random stranger jumped into her car and stole it.

The woman, in turn, helped police track down the suspect using the Apple “Find My” app.

As part of the statewide “Toward Zero Deaths” enforcement focused on arresting impaired drivers, a Saint Paul Police officer pulled over a woman he says was speeding in her Lincoln Navigator near Jefferson Avenue and 7th St. at about 6 p.m. Sunday.

According to a criminal complaint, when the officer began field sobriety testing, a completely unrelated man who was sitting on a nearby bus stop bench got into the driver’s seat of the woman’s car.

Police say the man was 39-year-old Kyle Vanwert, who has a long history of minor crimes involving drugs and theft. Before the officer could stop him, court papers say Vanwert sped away in the woman’s SUV.

After the thief took off in the Lincoln Navigator, the woman told police her iPhone and other electronics were still inside. Using the “Find My” app, they traced the iPhone to Apple Valley, where they found it — apparently tossed out the window by the thief. 

But little did he know, according to the criminal complaint, that the woman still had an Apple AirTag dangling from the keychain. 

After notifying Richfield police that AirTag was pinging from the area of 77th Street and Nicollet Avenue, the complaint says they found the SUV, chased it, and finally arrested Vanwert. 

In the end, the woman got her vehicle back — intact — and she was not charged with DWI. Saint Paul Police say she was not over the legal limit.

Vanwert, however, could get a DWI instead. Police say they believe he was high on drugs but they are waiting for the blood test to come back.

ST PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Police Department released body camera video from the officers who shot and killed a man believed to be a suspect in a murder the night before.

Police had sought the man, identified as 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, in connection to a murder that occurred Wednesday night in St. Paul.

Police say officers monitored a house on the 100 block of Meridian Street in Belle Plaine overnight after the license plate number from the suspect’s vehicle was listed to the home. Police say a man matching the description of the suspect was seen leaving the home at around 6:30 a.m. when body cameras capture officers yelling, “Let me see your hands.” One officer is heard yelling, “Gun! Gun!” before multiple shots were fired.

The officers who fired their weapons were identified as Aaron Bohlen, who has worked in law enforcement for 10 years, and Lance Christianson, who has worked in the field for 20 years, according to the BCA. Both officers have been put on standard administrative leave.

While officers were putting handcuffs on Murdock, he was heard asking officers, “Why did you shoot me?” One officer responded, “Because you had a gun in your hand.” A gun is seen lying next to Murdock after the shots were fired.

Murdock was transported to HCMC, where he later died.

The BCA said Murdock was a suspect in a murder that occurred Wednesday, Sept. 25 near the 200 block of East Kellogg Boulevard. The woman was later identified as 66-year-old Carrie Kwok of St. Paul. Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative confirmed on Facebook that Kwok was one of its members and she was shot while working on an art project outside the building.

“This has been a very sad time for our city and the families of those impacted by the loss of a loved one,” said St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry in a statement. “We stand committed to being transparent and accountable for our actions and we hope the release of these videos will help answer some of the questions people have. The families, our community, and our officers will continue to be our priority as this independent investigation moves forward.”

RANDOLPH, Minn. — A $45,000 reward is being offered to anyone with valuable information into the disappearance of 56-year-old Nicole “Nikki” Anderson, who has been missing since early July.

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office said private parties came together to offer an additional $40,000 to be added to the original $5,000 reward that was offered earlier this year. The reward will be given to anyone who provides information that leads to the whereabouts of Anderson or the prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance. Only tips received through the sheriff’s office or CrimeStoppers will be eligible for the reward. Tips can be submitted by phone at 651-438-TIPS (8477), via email at crimeandwarranttips@co.dakota.mn.us or online at the link Report A Tip.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Anderson left her home in Randolph Township around 10 a.m. on July 6, and hasn’t been heard from since. Officials say Anderson left on foot without her phone, wallet, glasses or medication, adding there is “concern for her welfare.”

Anderson’s mother, Dorene Mies, told KARE 11’s Kiya Edwards that her daughter left the house that morning to get the mail and never returned. The moment was captured on their Ring camera.