Man Shot at by Deputy in Rochester Sentenced in Assault Case
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Eyota man who managed to avoid arrest immediately following an officer-involved shooting in Rochester last year has been sentenced to a year and a half in prison.
39-year-old Jesse Johnson entered a guilty plea to a second-degree assault charge in May through a plea deal that led to the dismissal of another felony assault charge and a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. He was accused of brandishing a pistol during an argument with another man, who told police that Johnson tried to shoot him but his gun jammed. The victim stated that Johnson then pistol-whipped him, knocking him unconscious.
Johnson was wanted on an arrest warrant in that case when members of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Warrants Team attempted to take him into custody last December in the parking lot of the Planet Fitness business next to Cub Foods in southeast Rochester. While making his getaway, Johnson allegedly rammed into two law enforcement vehicles.
Police reports concerning the incident say a deputy standing next to one of the vehicles responded by firing a single shot in the direction of Johnson's vehicle. No one was injured and an investigation later cleared the deputy of any criminal wrongdoing.
Johnson managed to elude authorities until he was apprehended in February in Iowa, where he faces additional charges.
