Spring Lake Park man charged after dragging Blaine officer with Corvette, flipping car in residential yard
Spring Lake Park resident Richard James Chacich, 58, has been charged after his Corvette dragged a Blaine police officer and then flipped into a residential yard during a traffic stop in Blaine.[1]
The criminal complaint says the officer warned Chacich not to reenter the Corvette and leaned through the window as Chacich repeatedly tried to start the car.[1] When Chacich then "floored it" in reverse, the Corvette dragged and threw the officer, the complaint says.[1] A witness told investigators Chacich had been driving erratically and "playing bumper cars" before a minor crash prompted the traffic stop.[1]
The Corvette made a high-speed turn into a driveway on Elm Street, struck a retaining wall and flipped into a yard, ejecting Chacich's dog and a 16-oz beer can, the complaint says.[1] Officers found Chacich incoherent and slow to comply but with only superficial injuries, and they discovered marijuana in the vehicle.[1]
FOX 9 first reported the officer being thrown from a Corvette during a DWI stop on Monday, Sept. 21.[2] A later FOX 9 story on Wednesday, Sept. 23 identified the driver as 58-year-old Richard James Chacich and laid out the criminal complaint that led to felony charges, including felony assault.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Spring Lake Park resident Richard James Chacich, 58, is charged in Anoka County with multiple felonies, including felony assault (Richard James Chacich).
- According to the criminal complaint, an officer warned Chacich not to reenter the Corvette and leaned through the window as Chacich repeatedly tried to start the car, then "floored it" in reverse, dragging and throwing the officer (criminal complaint).
- A witness told investigators Chacich had been driving erratically and "playing bumper cars" before a minor crash prompted the traffic stop (witness).
- The Corvette made a high-speed turn into a driveway on Elm Street in Blaine, struck a retaining wall and flipped into a residential yard, ejecting Chacich’s dog and a 16‑oz beer can (Elm Street in Blaine).
- Officers found Chacich incoherent and slow to comply but with only superficial injuries, and they discovered marijuana in the vehicle (marijuana in the vehicle).
- FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul published these details in a story on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 (FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the driver as 58-year-old Spring Lake Park resident Richard James Chacich and notes he is charged in Anoka County with multiple felonies including felony assault.
- Provides detailed narrative from the criminal complaint: officer warning Chacich not to reenter the Corvette, the officer leaning through the window, Chacich repeatedly trying to start the car and then "flooring it" in reverse, dragging and then throwing the officer.
- Adds witness account that Chacich had been driving erratically and "playing bumper cars" before the minor crash that prompted the stop.
- Details the flight path and final crash: high-speed turn into a driveway on Elm Street in Blaine, impact with a retaining wall, and the Corvette flipping into a yard, ejecting Chacich’s dog and a 16‑oz beer can.
- Describes officers finding Chacich incoherent and slow to comply yet with only superficial injuries, and notes discovery of marijuana in the vehicle.