Rochester PD ID’s Suspect Shot at by Olmsted County Deputy
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester Police Department has released the identity of the man shot at by an Olmsted County Sheriff’s Deputy as he was fleeing an arrest attempt at Planet Fitness Wednesday afternoon.
A news release identifies the suspect as 38-year-old Jesse Johnson. Police say Johnson has an active arrest warrant for an alleged felony assault involving a firearm and another alleged felony-level assault.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Southeastern Minnesota Violent Crimes Task Force located Johnson at Planet Fitness in the 1000 block of 15th Ave. in Southeast Rochester around 4:50 p.m. Police say Johnson entered a vehicle and began to flee the parking lot in the vehicle as deputies approached him.
The news release says the vehicle Johnson was driving struck law enforcement vehicles during his escape. The deputy then shot at Johnson as he was driving away.
Police say Johnson has not been located and that it’s unknown if he was wounded by the deputy’s gunfire. No deputies were hurt during the incident.
Johnson is described as 5 '8” and 215 pounds. He was last seen driving a 2008 silver Pontiac G-6 with a MN license plate that reads BKT-665 with damage to the rear bumper area.
Police say Johnson has been known to carry firearms. Rochester Police Captain Casey Moilanen is asking the public not to approach or attempt to apprehend Johnson. Instead he advises community members to be good witnesses and report possible sightings of Johnson with as many details as possible to law enforcement.
Police are urging Johnson to turn himself in and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 911. The Rochester Police Department says investigators are leading the investigation of the deputy-involved shooting at the request of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.
Rochester police did not release the name of the deputy who fired the gun shot at Johnson. Officials did not disclose whether or not the incident was captured by body or dash cameras.