Suspect identified in pursuit, shooting incident in Beltrami County

We have new details about the suspect who died after a high speed chase in Bemidji. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner has identified the suspect as 28-year-old Jared Robert Nash. Nash died as a result of suicide by a single gunshot wound. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the circumstances leading up to Nash’s death.

Officials had been attempting to locate Nash since last week, and spotted him driving on Highway 2 in Cass County yesterday. A high speed pursuit ensued and spike strips were used to stop Nash when he was heading west on Division Street in Bemidji. Law Enforcement officers.

A pursuit ensued along Highway 2 with several other agencies joining and reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. Officers made phone contact with Nash to try to get him to stop, at which time they learned he had a gun in his vehicle. Because Nash was headed to a heavily-populated area, officers deployed spike strips to stop him. Nash hit the strips on Highway 2, heading west on Division St. in Bemidji and coming to a stop near Division St. and Hidden Trail Court.

According to the preliminary investigation, law enforcement officers immediately shouted commands for Nash to exit the vehicle, after which they heard a single gunshot. Nash was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial indication is that no officers fired their weapons.

Nash was the subject of a pursuit by the Minnesota State Patrol on July 25 in Beltrami County related to driving after license cancellation. That pursuit was discontinued without law enforcement apprehending Nash. During both incidents officers knew who they were pursuing. No one else was in Nash’s vehicle during Monday’s incident.

Once the BCA completes its investigation it will present its findings to the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office for review.