ST. PAUL — The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who died during a March 11 use-of-force incident in Rochester as Cleavon White, 47, of Rochester.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the officer from the Rochester Police Department who used force during this incident. 

• Officer Josiah Duit fired his department-issued firearm. He has three years of law enforcement experience. The Rochester Police Department has placed him on critical incident leave. 

According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, Rochester officers and a Crisis Response Team social worker were called to an apartment on the 1900 block of Ashland Drive Northwest at about 9:30 p.m. on March 11 on a report that a man was experiencing a mental health crisis. 

Officers and social workers arrived and spoke to the man, later identified as White, in his apartment. An adult female and multiple children were also present. Officers and the social worker noted that White was acting erratically and paranoid and they concluded that White was possibly a threat to himself and others. Authorities decided to place White on a 72-hour mental health hold and told him he would be transported to the hospital. He refused to go, so Officer Duit and other officers attempted to take White into custody. He resisted and a struggle ensued. White grabbed an officer’s firearm during the struggle and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to fire. That officer yelled that White was going for the officer’s gun. Duit then fired multiple shots that struck White. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until an ambulance arrived and transported White to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured.     

Body-worn cameras captured portions of incident. 

The Rochester Police Department requested the BCA investigate the use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation on charges to the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office for review.