ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the man involved in a high speed pursuit with law enforcement and taken into custody following an officer involved shooting incident this weekend in Shakopee.
John Paul Smith, 19, of Willmar, was booked into the Scott County Jail for probable cause Fleeing a Peace Officer. Charges are expected tomorrow.
Two Burnsville police officers discharged their firearms during the foot pursuit. No one was struck by gunfire. Both officers are on standard administrative leave.
- Sergeant Steve Stoler has been with the Burnsville Police Department for 18 years.
- Officer Taylor Jacobs has been with the department for eight years.
In addition, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol used his vehicle to attempt a PIT maneuver at one point during the vehicle pursuit. Sergeant Thomas Sarych has been with the State Patrol for 22 years.
BCA agents investigating the incident believe Smith may have attempted to carjack a vehicle at one point during the foot pursuit. The BCA is asking the driver of a silver passenger car who may have encountered Smith around Noon near the intersection of Vierling Drive E. and Eagle Creek Boulevard to contact the BCA at 651-793-7000.
Smith was driving approximately 100 mph on westbound I-494 near Dodd Road around 11:30 a.m. Saturday when he passed a Minnesota State Patrol trooper. State Patrol troopers and Burnsville officers pursued Smith through several cities until Smith crashed his vehicle on southbound Highway 169 near Eagle Creek Boulevard in Shakopee.
Smith fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. Following a foot pursuit by personnel from the State Patrol, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Burnsville, Prior Lake, Shakopee and Savage police departments, Smith was taken into custody around noon on the 1300 block of Pine Tree Lane.
Portions of the incident are captured on both squad camera and body camera video.
The BCA will provide findings of its investigation without recommendation to the Scott County Attorney’s Office for review.
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