Minneapolis Man Gets Nearly 16 Years in Recruiter Hit and Run Case

A 52-year-old Minneapolis man who hit two uniformed Army recruiters with his 1994 Jeep Cherokee—and dragged one man for nearly three-quarters of a mile—has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.

Ramsey County Judge Judith Tilsen on Wednesday sentenced Enrico Taylor to 189 months in prison. The sentence follows Taylor’s guilty plea in November to one count of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault.

“We are pleased with the sentence today because it provides a measure of accountability for the Defendant’s criminal behavior and blatant disregard for the life of a both victims,” a release quoted Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “We are grateful that lives were not lost in this incident, and sympathize with the victims who are left to cope with their physical and emotional injuries. Our community is safer because of Judge Judith Tilsen’s 189 month sentence.”

Taylor confessed to Roseville detectives that he hit two pedestrians and fled the scene Sept. 17 at the Crossroads of Roseville Shopping Center on County Road B2, according to police. Taylor said he panicked, heard screaming coming from his vehicle, stopped and tried to pull the pedestrian from beneath his Jeep Cherokee.

The 42-year-old victim disputes that, though. He says the vehicle stopped at one point and that the driver got out to look beneath the vehicle but that the driver never tried to help him, police said.

The man was dragged to the intersection of County Road B2 and Prior Avenue before he was able to free himself from the undercarriage of the vehicle. He had a “severe, non-life threatening abrasion injuries” to his body and a broken leg.

The other recruiter, a 29-year old Brooklyn Center man, went over the top of the Cherokee and was able to walk away with injuries that didn’t require immediate medical attention.