Authorities say a man killed by Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies in Vadnais Heights last weekend had struggled with the officers and disarmed one of them before being fatally shot.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the shooting, said late Wednesday night that the Ramsey County medical examiner had identified the man as Darren Robert Jahnke, 47. The BCA said Jahnke had no permanent address.
Earlier Wednesday night, before the BCA’s announcement, Jahnke’s family identified him to the Pioneer Press.
“Our hearts are breaking right now,” sister Jenny Vance said of her brother’s death.
According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation:
Two deputies on routine patrol around 9:30 p.m. Sunday near U.S. 61 and Interstate 694 spotted a parked car and an RV that the officers deemed to be suspicious.
Deputies Sara Naglosky and Andre Rongitsch approached the car, and a woman inside it told them that a man, later identified as Jahnke, was inside the RV.
As the deputies approached the RV from either side, Deputies Doug Haider and Lisa Daly arrived on the scene at 3250 Fanum Road.
The officers located Jahnke sitting in the driver’s compartment of the recreational vehicle, which was parked on the east side of the street. After attempting to speak with Jahnke through the driver’s compartment, the four deputies entered the RV.
While trying to identify Jahnke, a struggle ensued. Two deputies used their Tasers on Jahnke, but the stun guns were ineffective. At that point in the struggle, Jahnke disarmed one of the deputies.
Deputy Rongitsch then fired his weapon, striking Jahnke.
The BCA said the deputies immediately administered first aid and called for an ambulance. Jahnke was taken to Regions Hospital, in St. Paul, where he died.
The woman was interviewed and released. The BCA’s statement didn’t offer any details about her and her relationship with Jahnke or explain their connection to the car and RV.
All four deputies remained on standard administrative leave Wednesday.
Daly has been a deputy with the Ramsey County sheriff’s office for 25 years; Haider has been with the department for 11 years; Naglosky for four months; and Rongitsch for 12 years.
The BCA said the deputies were not wearing body cameras. However, squad video from the scene is being analyzed.
When the investigation is complete, the BCA said it will turn its findings over to the Ramsey County attorney’s office for review.
Vance, Jahnke’s brother, said the family did not know any details of the night shooting beyond what authorities had publicly released.
“He was loved by many people,” Vance said of her brother. “Everybody he ever talked with just fell in love with him. He was charming and a really great person. We love him, and we’re going to miss him.”