ST PAUL, Minn. — Two people were arrested Wednesday after a Ramsey County deputy was fired at during a pursuit earlier this month in St. Paul.
According to the St. Paul Police Department, the alleged shooter, a 20-year-old St. Paul man, was taken into custody after officials executed a search warrant Wednesday morning. After the suspected shooter was arrested, a spokesperson for the SPPD said a 17-year-old turned himself into police, claiming to be the driver of the fleeing vehicle.
During a press conference Wednesday, SPPD Chief Axel Henry said there has been an increase of more than 150% in assaults on Minnesota police officers over the past five years, and about 40% over the past two years in St. Paul.
"If we wanted to catch people committing crimes, we'd all be dressed in plain clothes. ... We're out here to prevent crimes," said Chief Henry. "And when someone in our community shoots at a community member wearing one of these uniforms or a trooper uniform or a deputy uniform, it's a bellwether for us as community members. If you will shoot at a law enforcement officer who is clearly a police officer, you will literally shoot at anybody."
Police say shots were fired at the deputy following a pursuit that began when officers saw the vehicle driving recklessly at around 10:45 p.m. on March 1. According to a press release, the dark-colored Honda Accord was seen driving fast and ignoring stop signs in the area of Payne Avenue and Jessamine Street.
A Ramsey County Deputy, later identified as Deputy Joe Kill, was in the area listening to the radio channel when he found the vehicle and attempted to stop it. Police say the driver again refused to stop and the deputy initiated a chase.
Police say the pursuit headed east on the 900 block of Euclid Street when the deputy said he was shot at by a passenger in the vehicle he was chasing. During Wednesday's press conference, police say the shooter used a rifle to fire at the deputy's vehicle.
The deputy thought something had hit him when the shot was fired, officials said, and he stopped the pursuit. The vehicle continued east on Euclid Avenue and out of sight of officers. Police say the deputy was struck in the vest by shrapnel and was transported to Regions Hospital to be evaluated.
RELATED: Minnesota BCA says assaults against police officers is on the rise, more than three per day in 2023
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