‘Agitated’ Woman Rams Van Into Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A woman described by Rochester police as “agitated and aggressive” intentionally crashed a van into a door at the Mayo Civic Center early Thursday and then rammed a responding squad car.

Police Lt. Frank Ohm says the incident happened around 4:30 AM.

The first officer to respond to the 911 call pulled in behind the van and was then rammed several times before the woman drove off.

Other officers followed her to the Kwik Trip store at 11th Ave NW and Civic Center Dr. and were able to stop the van and take the woman into custody. She was identified as 36-year-old Jamie Copeland, who has no permanent address.

The officer who was in the squad she rammed was treated for minor injuries.

Ohm says Copeland admitted she had “smoked a large amount of methamphetamine.”

The doors she rammed are on the north side of the civic center and serve as the entrance to the community warming center.