ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Minnesota State Trooper was charged Tuesday with multiple felony counts for the death of a teen near the Apache Mall in May.
Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said Trooper Shane Elroy Roper is charged with nine counts, including one count of second-degree manslaughter (felony), one count criminal vehicular homicide (felony), five counts criminal vehicular operation (felony), reckless driving (gross misdemeanor) and one count of careless driving (misdemeanor).
According to a criminal complaint, on May 18 around 5:40 p.m., Trooper Roper was conducting traffic enforcement near the 6th Street Southwest entrance to Highway 52 in Rochester when he observed a petty traffic offense. The trooper got into his squad and drove southbound onto Hwy 52.
Data retrieved from his vehicle showed Roper turned on his emergency lights and accelerated to 98 m.p.h. on the highway.
Still following the vehicle suspected of a traffic offense, Roper slowed down to exit to 12th Street Southwest with his emergency lights off. The criminal complaint said that in less than a quarter of a mile, the trooper's squad hit 83 m.p.h. The posted speed limit on this road is 40.
Roper continued down 12th Street Southwest "at full throttle," according to the criminal complaint, approaching the Apache Drive Southwest intersection.
This main entry point to the Apache Mall has "very active traffic" in the late afternoon and early evening hours, the criminal complaint said, and the shape of the roadway makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic.
The trooper's squad approached the intersection as an SUV was turning left, at least partially blocking Roper's view of the left-turn lane.
Roper was traveling at 83 m.p.h. when a Ford Focus with three people inside started to enter the left turn lane. The trooper was unable to stop or avoid the collision and struck the car going at least 55.
The collision forced both vehicles to go through the intersection and strike a Toyota RAV4 with two people inside.
The driver of the Ford Focus described the speed of the oncoming vehicle as “a rocket" in the criminal complaint. Other witnesses were quoted describing the speed of the oncoming vehicle as “flying,” “in a blink of an eye,” and “hauling ass.”
No witnesses saw or heard emergency lights or a siren, the criminal complaint noted.
The person riding in the back of the Focus, later identified as 18-year-old Olivia Flores, died as a result of blunt force injuries from the crash. The Focus' driver suffered a lacerated liver, a bruised kidney and numerous other injuries. While sitting in the front passenger seat, another person had a broken pelvis, a lacerated kidney and other minor injuries.
Both of the people in the RAV4 suffered physical pain after the crash.
Roper had a passenger in his car as a "ride along" at the time and that person had bruised ribs and multiple fractures as a result of the crash.
Several weeks after the crash, Roper provided a statement to law enforcement and said he was trying to "close the gap" between his squad and the vehicle he was pursuing, but said it was not "an active pursuit." The trooper said he wasn't paying attention to his speed at the time and thought his emergency lights were still on.
When officials reviewed Roper's discipline records and driving patterns, it was found Roper had been in four prior crashes due to either inattentive driving or excessive speed. In the three hours leading up to the collision on May 18, Roper accelerated to 99 m.p.h. on numerous occasions to initiate traffic stops for suspected petty offenses. During one of these instances, the trooper was driving 135 m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. speed zone with neither lights nor sirens activated. The criminal complaint said officials also reviewed Roper’s MSP training records and it reflected a starting date of January 2016, and that Roper has consistently received driving-related training over the past 8 years.
State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic released the following statement on Tuesday after the charges against Roper were published:
"We express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Olivia Flores and to the other community members affected by the tragic fatal crash that occurred on May 18 in Rochester.
Today the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office announced charges against Trooper Shane Roper. The conduct alleged in the criminal complaint is concerning and does not align with the State Patrol’s core values. The announcement of charges marks the next steps in the judicial process related to this case. We respect that process and cannot comment further due to ongoing criminal proceedings.
In accordance with the troopers’ labor contract, Trooper Shane Roper remains on paid investigative leave."
The family of Olivia Flores released a statement on Tuesday, calling on the Commissioner of Public Safety, State Patrol and Governor Tim Walz to commence an "open and independent investigation into the organizational failures that led to Trooper Roper taking Olivia Flores' life."
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