ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the St. Paul police officer who shot and injured a 21-year-old man during an encounter near Regions Hospital on Aug. 10.
Officer Jacob Pederson fired his department-issued firearm during the incident, according to preliminary information released by the BCA. Pederson has 12 years of law-enforcement experience and was placed on critical-incident leave following the shooting.
The man who was shot was identified as Tayshawn Brown-Roberts, 21, of St. Paul.
The incident began at approximately 9 a.m. when officers with the St. Paul Police Department responded to a reported domestic assault on the 400 block of Temperance Street.
According to the BCA, the reported victim told responding officers that Brown-Roberts had left the area and was believed to have a firearm. Officers began searching for him and later located him near East 12th Street and Regions Hospital.
Authorities said officers attempted to detain Brown-Roberts, but he ran from them. Brown-Roberts was confronted by additional officers after running a short distance.
During that encounter, the BCA said Brown-Roberts removed an object that appeared to be a handgun from a bag. Pederson then discharged his firearm, striking and injuring Brown-Roberts.
Brown-Roberts was transported to Regions Hospital for medical treatment. Authorities have not publicly released complete information about the severity of his injuries or his current medical condition.
BCA crime-scene personnel processed the location following the shooting. Investigators said they recovered a replica Glock BB gun from the scene. The agency also obtained video recorded by officers’ body-worn cameras and squad-car cameras.
The BCA has not publicly released that footage. It remains unclear when the recordings may become available or which agency would be responsible for releasing them.
Published reports indicate Brown-Roberts has been charged with threats of violence against an officer, violating a no-contact order, domestic assault and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Those charges are accusations, and Brown-Roberts is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The charges against Brown-Roberts are separate from the independent investigation into Pederson’s use of force.
The St. Paul Police Department requested that the BCA investigate the shooting. During these investigations, BCA agents collect physical evidence, interview witnesses, review available recordings and document the actions of the officers and other people involved.
After completing its investigation, the BCA will submit its findings to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors will review the evidence and determine whether Pederson’s use of force was legally justified or whether criminal charges should be filed. The BCA does not make the final charging decision.
Pederson will remain subject to the St. Paul Police Department’s administrative procedures in addition to the BCA’s criminal investigation. The department has not announced whether any other officers were placed on leave following the incident.
Several details remain unanswered, including how many officers responded to the original domestic-assault call, how long officers searched for Brown-Roberts and whether any officer other than Pederson used force during the encounter.
The National Correspondent Network contacted the St. Paul Police Department seeking additional information about the original call, the number of responding officers, Pederson’s leave status, Brown-Roberts’ condition, available incident numbers and the potential release of body-camera, squad-camera or dispatch recordings.
NCN also asked whether Brown-Roberts had been arrested or cited following his hospitalization and whether an appropriate department representative would be available for an interview.
Because the BCA is conducting the independent investigation, SPPD may refer questions involving evidence, officer actions or investigative conclusions to the state agency.
The BCA described its account as preliminary. Additional information could emerge as investigators review video recordings, interview witnesses and examine evidence recovered from the scene.
This remains an active investigation. NCN will update this article when either SPPD, the BCA or the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office releases additional verified information.
