Scooby-smack: Villain plows Mystery Machine into St. Paul home
Ruh Roh!
That might have crossed a St. Paul homeowner's mind Friday morning when a 1997 Dodge van painted to look like one driven by the cast of the animated series "Scooby-Doo" crashed into his home.
Officers were called about 3 a.m. by a homeowner who said the van had crashed into his house and he'd seen two dark figures running from the crash, St. Paul police spokesperson Mike Ernster said.
Police found it, with "The Mystery Machine" painted on the side.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
The van belongs to another St. Paul man on the city's east side. He told police he'd last seen it about 9 p.m. the night before. He said no one had permission to use it and he filed a stolen vehicle report with the police.
Ernster said that the van crashed through a chain link fence and destroyed the wooden front steps of the home. The vehicle itself suffered moderate damage.
"We did search the area for suspects, K-9 did, tracked to a garage within a block of the crash scene, and located two teenage boys who have been identified and released," Ernster said. "Their involvement has yet to be determined."
And while a dog was involved in the chase, there were no signs of Fred, Velma, Shaggy or Daphne at the scene of the crime — and no one's monster mask was pulled off.