ST PAUL, Minn. — A Ramsey County Sheriff's deputy is being treated at Regions Hospital after being shot at during a pursuit Friday evening in St. Paul's Dayton's Bluff.
On Saturday morning, St. Paul police said in a press release that officers saw a dark-colored Honda Accord driving recklessly at Payne Avenue and Jessamine Street around 10:45 p.m. Police said the vehicle was driving fast and not stopping for stop signs.
Officers said they attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver sped away. Police said they didn't pursue the driver and alerted other officers in the area that the vehicle hadn't stopped for them.
A Ramsey County Deputy was in the area listening to the radio channel, according to a press release and found the vehicle and attempted to stop it. The driver again refused to stop and the deputy initiated a chase.
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, according to a press release.
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.
Emergency responders checked on the deputy. He was sent to the hospital for evaluation even though he didn't have any apparent injuries, according to a release.
On Friday night, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said the deputy suffered minor injuries after being hit in the vest with shrapnel. During his weekly "Live on Patrol" stream, Fletcher said the shooter was hanging out the passenger's side window and fired multiple shots with a long rifle. On the 900 block of Euclid Street, at least one of the shots went through the dashboard, and shrapnel struck the deputy.
No arrests have been made.
St. Paul Police posted on social media that the deputy's vehicle had damage to the hood and dashboard "consistent with being struck with gunfire."
Officials said the deputy was struck by "debris or possibly shrapnel" from bullets striking his vehicle. The deputy's bullet-resistant vest appeared to have protected him and he had no apparent injuries.
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said in a statement on Saturday:
“We’re relieved the officer wasn’t killed. This, once again, illustrates the severe danger posed to law enforcement in their duties to keep communities safe. The increased violence against law enforcement is at a crisis level: a war on police in Minnesota.
Law enforcement, who put their lives on the line every day to keep communities safe, deserve respect and support, not violence and hostility.
Public safety officials need help during this recruitment and retention crisis: community support, and resources to do their jobs effectively and safely.
Anti-police proposals only fuel the fire of the war on law and order. It’s time for leaders to support law enforcement and stop providing aid and comfort to lawlessness.”
*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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