Shane Roper Press Release

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MARK A.

OSTREM
OFFICE 507.328.7600
OLMSTED COUNTY ATTORNEY FAX 507.328.7961
151 4th STREET SE WITNESS LINE 507.328.7610
ROCHESTER MN 55904-3710 EMAIL: COUNTY.ATTORNEY@CO.OLMSTED.MN.US

July 9, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem announced today that criminal charges have been filed
against Shane Roper for his actions causing a motor vehicle crash on May 18, 2024, at the
intersection of Apache Mall Dr. and 12th St. SW in Rochester, MN. As a result of the crash, 18-
year-old Olivia Flores died, and five other persons were injured. Charges include Second Degree
Manslaughter along with Criminal Vehicular Homicide related to Ms. Flores as well as several
charges of Criminal Vehicular Operation related to the other victims.

At approximately 5:44 p.m. on May 18, 2024, emergency responders were dispatched to a
serious motor vehicle crash at the entrance to Apache Mall. Three vehicles were involved with
seven occupants. Initial observations were that a Minnesota State Patrol unit driven by Trooper
Shane Roper had t-boned a Ford Focus and one or both vehicles were then pushed into a Toyota
Rav4. Emergency personnel were rapidly extricating and providing medical treatment to the
occupants of the Focus and Rav4. All occupants were taken to the emergency department. Ms.
Flores died a few hours later as a result of her injuries. Five other occupants suffered serious
injuries including broken bones and other significant injuries. Trooper Roper had minor injuries.

The Rochester Police Department investigated the crash. The investigation revealed that
Trooper Roper had been stationary on the exit ramp from 6th St. SW onto Hwy 52 doing traffic
enforcement. Trooper Roper activated his emergency lights and exited the ramp at a very high
rate of speed reaching 98 miles an hour, attempting to catch up to a traffic violator, before
exiting onto 12th St. SW. Exiting the ramp and entering 12th St. SW eastbound, Trooper Roper
turned off his emergency lights and sirens and accelerated to full throttle reaching 83 mph
approaching the mall entrance. The speed limit on 12th St. SW is 40 mph.

East and west bound traffic on 12th St. SW had green lights. Other vehicles were in and around
the intersection. Trooper Roper maintained a full throttle without lights or sirens. A westbound
Ford Focus began a left turn into the mall and Trooper Roper’s squad slammed into the
passenger side of the Focus. Investigation revealed that Trooper Roper did not come off the full
throttle until the Focus started into the intersection, approximately 1.4 seconds before impact.
Trooper Roper’s vehicle violently impacted the Focus.

The Minnesota State Patrol has specific guidelines and policy related to high-speed driving. The
State Patrol requires periodic driving related training for its troopers. Over the course of his 8-
year career, Trooper Roper has attended approximately 13 driving training courses for a total of
107 hours. Investigation revealed that at least four times earlier in the day on May 18, Trooper

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Roper engaged in high-speed driving without emergency lights, in one instance reaching a speed
of 135 mph, other times over 99 mph. Each of these instances Roper either did not initiate
emergency lights or turned them off while maintaining extreme speeds.

It is the policy of the Minnesota State Patrol that personnel have a “duty to protect all peoples’
lives to the extent possible when enforcing the law.” Trooper Roper violated that policy driving
in a grossly negligent manner attempting to catch up to a petty traffic violator on a consistently
busy roadway.

Ostrem commented, “Trooper Roper, violating his duty in such a gross fashion, caused the death
of a young lady celebrating her impending graduation from high school. Several other persons
suffered serious injury. Roper’s conduct violated the State Patrol’s Core Values. As with any
other person driving recklessly and without regard to very basic rules of the road, Mr. Roper’s
conduct cannot be tolerated.”

The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office express our deepest condolences to the family of Olivia
Flores. We also share our sympathy to the other vehicles’ occupants who experienced injury and
trauma in this event.

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