Eden Prairie police chaplain charged in hit-and-run
Hennepin County prosecutors charged Eden Prairie Police Department chaplain John Charles Brecount, 61, with multiple counts of criminal vehicular operation and leaving the scene after an Aug. 21, 2025 hit-and-run at Mitchell Rd. and Chestnut Dr. that critically injured a 2-year-old and hurt her mother. Brecount told police he was distracted by a text from his wife, initially thought he struck a crosswalk sign, later contacted authorities saying, "I think it was me," and forensic evidence linked his white sedan to the crash.
đ Key Facts
- Defendant: John Charles Brecount, 61, volunteer chaplain with Eden Prairie Police Department
- Charges: criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm and leaving the scene, filed Dec. 16, 2025 in Hennepin County Court
- Incident details: Aug. 21, 2025 at Mitchell Rd. & Chestnut Dr.; 2-year-old critically injured; mother sustained minor injuries; suspect vehicle fled
đ Relevant Data
In 2024, distracted driving was a factor in at least 29 fatal crashes and 137 serious injuries in Minnesota.
Nothing on a phone is worth a life: Commit now to driving distracted ... â Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Approximately 25% of pedestrian deaths in the United States are the result of hit-and-run crashes.
Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data â GHSA
Thirty-one percent of Eden Prairie residents are Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), compared with 23% of Minnesotans.
State demographer outlines shifting trends in Eden Prairie â EP Local News
American Indian pedestrians are killed much more than other racial and ethnic groups, with 4.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 in Minnesota.
Race and Transportation Trend Analysis - Minnesota GO â Minnesota GO
Gen Z and Millennials (ages 16-45) account for 72% of all distracted driving violations.
Distracted Driving Violations Continue to Rise â LexisNexis
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