Chase suspect charged; Austin Police officer who fired shots identified
Published 6:20 am Tuesday, April 26, 2016
A Mower County Sheriff’s Department cruiser and another vehicle sit just off the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 19th Street Northeast following a high speed chase the night of April 20. Herald file photos
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has named Edgar Fernando Rodriguez as the man shot by an Austin cop after fleeing police at high speeds through Austin last Wednesday.
Edgar Fernando Rodriguez
Rodriguez, 25, of Austin has been released from St. Marys Hospital in Rochester and is currently in custody in Mower County Jail. He is facing charges of felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.
The BCA also named Adam Scott as the Austin police officer who shot Rodriguez after he allegedly rammed into a squad car. Scott was placed on standard leave following the situation.
At about 8:10 p.m. on April 20, dispatch received a 911 call from a citizen who reported bad driving by a male in a silver car, according to court records.
The person said he confronted the driver and thought the driver was under the influence. The person added Rodriguez was being belligerent toward him.
He told police Rodriguez was walking toward a residence in the 2000 block of Fourth Avenue Northeast. Officers responded to the area, but in the 1900 block of Oakland Avenue East, an officer clocked a gray vehicle, later identified to be a silver Mercedes sedan, driving at about 72 mph in a 30 mph zone.
The officer pursued the Mercedes through residential streets. Another Austin police officer and Mower County Deputy Sheriff joined the pursuit, which lasted three minutes with speeds well above the posted speed limit, according to court records.
The pursuit continued eastbound on Fifth Avenue Northeast until the vehicle stopped at the intersection of 19th Street and Fifth Avenue Northeast.
As the first officer was getting out of his squad car, the Mercedes backed up and rammed two squad cars. Then, Scott fired at the vehicle, but it took off southbound on 19th Street Northeast. The other officer followed the Mercedes, which drove one block before turning eastbound.
Austin Police block off a street just off of Fourth Avenue and 19th Street Northeast following a high speed chase.
The officer executed a PIT maneuver in the 2000 block of Fourth Avenue Northeast, which ended the pursuit. Both the Mercedes and squad car sustained damage as a result of the collision.
Officers took Rodriguez into custody and found a BB/pellet gun on him. Rodriguez was the only person in the car.
Rodriguez sustained an injury to his left hand, believed to be cause by a gun shot. He was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin and later by ambulance to St. Marys in Rochester.
A BCA investigator reviewed the squad car footage and saw Rodriguez’s car clearly speeding as it approached the officer’s car. Rodriguez’s car can also be seen ignoring numerous traffic control devices during the pursuit.
The video also shows Rodriguez backing and ramming into officer’s squad before the officer discharges his service weapon.
His next appearance is scheduled for May 5.
