18-Year-Old Charged for Target Parking Lot Hit and Run

(KNSI) — An 18-year-old St. Cloud man is now facing several charges after he allegedly swerved toward a pedestrian in the Target parking lot and purposely ran them down.

According to the criminal complaint, St. Cloud police were called about 4:30 Sunday afternoon to the lot at the eastside Target location for a hit and run. Several witnesses told police they saw the driver of a dark-colored Volkswagen Passat come flying into the lot at a high rate of speed, hit several vehicles and then hit a pedestrian. The driver of the Passat is identified in court papers as 18-year-old Nathan James Severtson.

The 29-year-old victim had cuts to his face, blood coming out of his mouth and an injured right leg. He was taken to CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. There, he told investigators he was walking through the lot and heard a noise behind him, and when he turned around, he saw the car heading right for him. He said he believed Severtson was aiming for him. Surveillance footage from the crash backed up what the victim said and showed him trying to jump out of the way before he was hit. It also shows Severtson hitting an SUV twice. Witnesses said it appears Severtson backed up after the initial crash and went back for a second swipe.

A nearby officer arrived on scene and found Severtson speeding through the parking lot, heading toward the squad car. The officer tried to initiate a traffic stop but says Severtson took off and headed south on Lincoln Avenue Southeast. They stopped a short time later, and Severtson was taken into custody without further incident.

Court documents say Severtson admitted to drinking beforehand. A breath test at the scene showed Severtson’s blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit for driving; however, due to Severtson’s age, the Not-a-Drop Law applies, which is a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving with any amount of alcohol in the body.

Severtson has been charged with second degree assault, fleeing police, criminal vehicular operation, and trespassing.

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