CANNON FALLS, Minn. — The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a man died in Cannon Falls following a police chase that started in Dodge County Sunday evening.
According to the sheriff's office, the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) cameras captured the pursuit, which ended in the parking lot of the Mayo Hospital in Cannon Falls.
The incident began just after 7:30 p.m. when Dodge County deputies responded to the City of West Concord to assist an officer who was allegedly rammed by a driver during an attempted traffic stop, according to a statement from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office.
"Someone who observed the crash followed the suspect," according to the statement. Deputies then located the vehicle and attempted to stop it again, which triggered the pursuit. Law enforcement was able to deploy stop sticks and the pursuit ended soon after the suspect entered Goodhue County. Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose said the suspect pulled into the Mayo Clinic parking lot where they died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Monday Cannon Falls Police Chief Jeff McCormick sent out a press release offering additional details. He said one of his officers responded to the pursuit, which ended in the Mayo parking lot. Chief McCormick says the driver of the vehicle was given repeated commands and refused to follow them, eventually displaying a gun and shooting himself. Paramedics responded and determined the driver was deceased.
"Social Media posts indicated that there was an officer-involved shooting in Cannon Falls, but no shots were fired by law enforcement," reads the release sent out Monday morning. "Because a Cannon Falls Police Officer was present, the Chief of Police requested assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to conduct a conflict-of-interest investigation of the incident."
Chief McCormick went on to say any loss of life is tragic, and that Cannon Falls police extend condolences to the family and loved ones of the driver who died.
The West Concord police officer who was injured when their car was rammed by the suspect was transported to a hospital in Owatonna for treatment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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