The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Friday identified Officer Jacob Pederson of the St. Paul Police Department as the officer who fired his department-issued weapon during an Aug. 10 confrontation that left a 21-year-old man injured.
What BCA says happened
According to a preliminary account released by the BCA, officers had responded at about 9 a.m. to a domestic assault call in the 400 block of Temperance Street. The reported victim told officers that the suspect, later identified as Tayshawn Brown-Roberts, had fled and was believed to be armed.
Officers located Brown-Roberts on 12th Street near Regions Hospital. The BCA said officers attempted to detain him, he ran a short distance and was then confronted by officers. During that confrontation, the BCA said Brown-Roberts removed an item from a bag that
"appeared to be a handgun"
and Pederson fired, injuring Brown-Roberts. Investigators later recovered a replica Glock BB gun at the scene. The BCA said squad car and body-worn camera footage captured the incident.
Procedural steps and local impact
The St. Paul Police Department placed Pederson, who has 12 years of law enforcement experience, on critical incident leave following the shooting. The BCA will complete its investigation and forward its findings, without a recommendation, to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for review, as is standard practice in officer-involved shootings.
As of Friday afternoon, Brown-Roberts remained hospitalized, the BCA said. Separately, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged Brown-Roberts with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon related to the alleged assault on his girlfriend that prompted the initial police response.
- Officer: Jacob Pederson (12 years of experience)
- Suspect: Tayshawn Brown-Roberts, 21, of St. Paul
- Location: 400 block of Temperance Street; 12th Street near Regions Hospital
- Evidence recovered: Replica Glock BB gun; squad and body-worn camera footage
Timeline (as reported)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~9:00 a.m., Aug. 10 | Officers respond to domestic assault call, victim reports suspect fled and was armed |
| Shortly after | Officers locate suspect near 12th Street and Regions Hospital; an attempted detention and brief pursuit |
| Confrontation | Brown-Roberts removes item from bag; officer fires and injures Brown-Roberts |
| Following | BCA recovers replica BB gun and reviews squad/body-camera footage; officer placed on critical incident leave |
The incident has prompted increased attention from residents and advocacy groups who monitor police use of force in St. Paul and across Ramsey County. Officer-involved shootings typically draw both criminal and administrative review, and community members often await the Ramsey County Attorney’s decision for possible charges or further action.
Law enforcement agencies in the region routinely request the BCA to investigate serious use-of-force incidents to ensure an independent review. The BCA’s role is to collect evidence, interview witnesses and examine video and physical evidence before presenting facts to county prosecutors.
The St. Paul Police Department confirmed it had requested the BCA investigate the incident. The department has not released other personnel details or additional internal investigative steps pending the BCA's completion of its work.
Ramsey County’s review of the BCA report will determine whether criminal charges are warranted against Pederson. That process can take weeks to months depending on the complexity of evidence and the medical status of the injured person. Meanwhile, Brown-Roberts faces charges connected to the alleged domestic assault that led officers to the scene.
Community members seeking updates can expect further information when the BCA releases its full investigative findings and when the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office completes its review.
