Two Years Later, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Renews Call for Help in Fridley Hit and Run Death

On the anniversary of the death of Calvin Lavell Garron, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is renewing its appeal for public assistance in a hit and run case that has remained unsolved since December 2022.

Garron, 51, died on the evening of Friday, December 16, 2022, after being struck by a vehicle along East River Road in the city of Fridley. The driver fled the scene, and investigators say the lack of witnesses and identifying evidence has left the case unresolved more than two years later.

The incident

According to law enforcement records and contemporaneous local reporting, Garron was walking in the area of the 6000 block of East River Road Northeast shortly after sunset. At approximately 5:15 p.m., emergency responders were called to reports of a man lying in the roadway near 6080 East River Road, close to R.L. Stevenson Elementary School.

Fridley police officers and medical personnel arrived to find Garron suffering from grave injuries. Despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that Garron died from a head injury caused by the impact with a vehicle.

Investigation findings

Investigators determined that Garron had been struck by a motor vehicle that left the area immediately after the collision. Evidence recovered from the scene confirmed the hit and run, but no witnesses were identified, and no suspect information has been publicly released.

At the time of his death, Garron was wearing a dark colored jacket, blue jeans, and black and white shoes. He was also carrying items in a plastic bag. Based on debris found at the scene and the nature of his injuries, authorities believe the vehicle involved likely sustained front end and or undercarriage damage.

The timing of the crash, shortly after sunset, and the location along a busy corridor have complicated the investigation. Law enforcement officials say no surveillance footage has been publicly identified that captures the vehicle or driver.

Remembering Calvin Garron

Garron was a resident of Fridley and originally from Chicago. Family members say he was a devoted father of 11 children and a grandfather to seven. He had worked at several local businesses over the years, including Target and Old Country Buffet.

Relatives have said the absence of answers has weighed heavily on the family, describing the lack of closure as an ongoing burden as each year passes without accountability.

Cold case status

The investigation is now assigned to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Homicide Unit under case number 22-278909. Authorities have made periodic public appeals for information, including on the first anniversary of Garron’s death in 2023 and again in subsequent years, but no arrests have been made.

Investigators are asking anyone who was driving in the area of East River Road between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on December 16, 2022, or anyone who noticed a vehicle with sudden or unexplained front end damage around that time, to come forward.

How to help

The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that even small details could prove significant. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

Information can be shared by emailing ACSOColdCases@anokacountymn.gov or by contacting Detective Ryan Franklin at 763 324 5210. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1 800 222 TIPS or through its website.

Additional information about this case and other unsolved homicides can be found on the Anoka County Cold Case Homicide Unit webpage.

MinneapoliMedia