ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the man involved in the use-of-force incident in Bloomington on Dec. 3 as Joshua Rocha, 21, of Savage.  

The BCA also identified the Bloomington officers who used force during this incident. The Bloomington Police Department has placed them on critical incident leave. 

• Sgt. Jeremy Pilcher discharged his firearm. He has 24 years of law enforcement experience.
• Officer David Rodriguez discharged his firearm. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Carson Sanchez discharged his firearm. He has five years of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Taylor Huss discharged her firearm. She has nine years of law enforcement experience.
• Officer John Bunnell discharged his firearm. He has eight years of law enforcement experience. 

According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, officers with the Bloomington Police Department witnessed a wrong-way driver at about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop so officers used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT). Officers gave commands for the driver, later identified as Rocha, to exit the vehicle. Rocha did not exit the vehicle and officers deployed PepperBall. Gunshots were then fired from inside the vehicle in the direction of officers, striking a squad car. The five officers discharged their firearms toward the vehicle. Police used an armored vehicle to safely approach Rocha in the vehicle and take him into custody. Rocha had injuries to both of his hands. Officers provided medical aid to Rocha before he was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a rifle, handgun and ammunition from Rocha’s vehicle. Spent cartridge casings were also recovered on scene as well as video from squad cars and body cameras worn by the officers.  

The Bloomington Police Department requested the BCA investigate this use-of-force incident. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review.