Deputy who discharged weapon in Rochester use of force incident last week identified

By KAALTV

[anvplayer video=”5153642″ station=”998128″]

(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Police Department (RPD) has identified the Olmsted County deputy who discharged his weapon during an attempted warrant arrest that occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Deputy Sean Cooper fired his department handgun during the attempted arrest. Cooper has been with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office for 3 years, and has been a police officer for a total of 17.5 years.

According to the Rochester Police Department, Jesse James Johnson, 38, was located around 4:50 p.m. in the 1000 block of 15th Avenue SE near Planet Fitness on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Johnson is allegedly known to carry firearms, and had an arrest warrant for 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon — a firearm.

According to RPD, as deputies approached Johnson in the parking lot, he entered a silver 2008 Pontiac G6 with MN license number BKT665. The suspect was able to get to his car, began to flee – ramming two law enforcement vehicles before fleeing the scene. Johnson remains on the loose.

Sgt. Lee Rossman with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect was in his vehicle when the deputy Cooper fired his department handgun.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office asked the Rochester Police Department to investigate the incident. Once the investigation is complete, the Rochester Police Department will present its findings without recommendation to the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office for review.