Charges brought against suspect shot by police outside Woodbury Target

Charges have been brought against the suspect who was shot by police outside a Target store in Woodbury.

On Friday, the Washington County Attorney’s Office announced that 61-year-old Donald Eugene Roche of Rockford had been charged with two counts of 2nd-degree assault, one count of financial transaction card fraud and one count of 3rd-degree burglary.

According to the attorney’s office, Roche allegedly stole a wallet from an Oakdale construction site on the morning of April 22.

He then used the stolen credit cards to make fraudulent purchases totaling over $3,000 at two stores in Woodbury. He also attempted to make $7,000 worth of transactions that were ultimately declined.

The Woodbury Public Safety Department was able to find Roche’s vehicle in a Target parking lot just after 9:15 a.m after a license plate reader reported it to be stolen. The vehicle had a damaged steering column.

When Roche returned to the vehicle after trying to make fraudulent purchases at Target, officers attempted to take him into custody.

A struggle ensued, but officers stopped when they saw what appeared to be a handgun. Roche then got into the vehicle and barricaded himself inside, according to the attorney’s office.

Other law enforcement agencies, including the Washington County SWAT Team, were called to the scene. Officials negotiated with Roche for an hour before he got out of the vehicle with a black gun in his hand, which authorities have since said was a BB-style pistol.

The SWAT team then used rubber rounds and pepper spray in an attempt to get him to surrender.

Roche reportedly refused to drop the handgun and pointed it at officers, according to the attorney’s office.

Two of the officers at the scene, Woodbury's James Stoffel and Washington County Deputy Brian Krook, fired their respective weapons – Stoffel a rifle and Krook a handgun – striking Roche several times.

Roche was taken to Region’s Hospital in critical condition. According to the Friday announcement, he is continuing to recover from his injuries.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the case and will send its findings to the Washington County Attorney's Office for any possible charging recommendations.