Wanted Man Accused of Fleeing State Trooper in Downtown Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man has been charged in connection with a fleeing incident that happened in downtown Rochester last year. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday. 

The court document says he had an active arrest warrant at the time of the alleged fleeing incident. 

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A state trooper attempted to stop the vehicle after seeing it without its lights on shortly after 1:30 on the morning of October 12. 

Wanted Man Accused of Fleeing State Trooper in Unlit Vehicle in Downtown Rochester, MN

The complaint says the trooper tried to stop the unlight vehicle at the intersection of 4th St. and 1st Ave. Southwest. Upon activating his squad’s emergency lights, the trooper saw and heard the vehicle accelerate, the complaint says. 

The trooper accelerated and attempted to stop the vehicle, which continued traveling at a high rate of speed without lights and weaving across the center line, according to the court filing. 

Out of a concern for the public safety, the trooper discontinued efforts to stop the vehicle, the complaint says. 

A Rochester police officer, who saw the alleged fleeing incident, reviewed surveillance camera footage and was able to identify the suspect as 27-year-old Javoi Laquan Payne, according to the court document. 

The Rochester man told law enforcement that he drives the suspect vehicle but denied fleeing the trooper, the complaint states. 

Payne has been charged with one count of felony fleeing. He’s due to make his first court appearance in May.