Warrant out for man suspected of fatal hit-and-run while fleeing police

A warrant was issued for the arrest of a man suspected of a fatal hit-and-run during an attempted arrest, according to court filings.

On Oct. 22 around 5 a.m., St. Paul police responded to the 100 block of Bridlewood Drive on a report of suspicious activity. Upon arriving, officers found a Ford Focus in a parking lot with two people inside, a criminal complaint says. A woman rolled down the window, crying, as police approached. The man inside was asked to step away from the car so police could talk to her alone.

The woman told police that Leonie Sparkman, 30, is her boyfriend and they had been verbally fighting. They’d been trying to stay at Sparkman’s mom’s house on Bridlewood but they had been homeless "for a while," according to the complaint.

Another officer talked to Sparkman, who told police that the woman was his sister and provided the brother’s name and incorrect date of birth, but officers were able to identify him from his driver’s license photo and the woman’s testimony, the complaint says. Sparkman had an active warrant out from Anoka County.

One officer attempted to arrest Sparkman, but he resisted when they tried to handcuff him, the complaint states. He ran into a driveway on the 200 block of Bridlewood. Officers ordered him to put his hands up and stop, but Sparkman climbed into a running Lexus. An officer tried to subdue him, but Sparkman was able to get into the driver’s seat and reversed out of the driveway, continuing north on Bridlewood at a high rate of speed.

A man came out of a residence and told officers, "He is stealing my car." The car’s owner told police that it was warming in the driveway.

Police didn’t pursue Sparkman but heard a crash a short time later. According to the complaint, they found the Lexus crashed near Valleyside Drive and Parkland Court.

A man was lying in the street about 30 yards from the car, unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Paul Fire Department.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as Brian S. Reed, of St. Paul. He suffered extensive traumatic injuries to his abdomen, thorax and head.

Sparkman has previous felony convictions, including first- and third-degree assault and first-degree aggravated robbery, court records show.

In this case, he was charged via warrant with four felonies Monday: Criminal vehicular homicide — operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner; criminal vehicular homicide — driver who causes collision leaves the scene; fleeing an officer — death bodily injury; and theft of or driving a motor vehicle without owner consent. In total, he faces up to 65 years in prison.

His bail is set at $200,000.

Sparkman is not in custody.