The man who allegedly shot and injured a Waseca police officer during an altercation Monday was charged Wednesday with first-degree attempted murder of three police officers.

The court complaint states Tyler Robert Janovsky, 37, reportedly shot Officer Arik Matson in the head from the top of a garage roof and also shot at Waseca Officer Andrew Harren and Sgt. Tim Schroeder but missed.

Matson remains hospitalized at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where he is in critical condition.

Court documents state the officers were dispatched at 8:02 p.m. Monday to the 900 block of Third Avenue Southeast for a report of a suspicious person with a flashlight in the backyards in the area.

When they arrived, they found Janovsky on the back balcony of 904 Third Ave Southeast.

Harren reportedly came through the house onto the balcony to pursue Janovsky, after which Janovsky fled from the balcony to the attached garage roof. He then crossed the pinnacle of the garage roof and crossed to the other side, facing the front of the house and the front driveway.

Matson, Schroeder and Capt. Kris Markeson circled around the house.

Documents state Janovsky fired at Harren but missed. He then fired at Matson, who was in the driveway, and hit him in the head. Officers exchanged gunfire with Janovksy, and Janovsky also fired his gun in the area of Matson and Schroeder.

Janovksy was ultimately struck by gunfire and remains hospitalized for non life-threatening injuries at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Matson and Schroeder fired their guns during the incident. Matson has been with the department for six years, and Schroeder for 21. Schroeder is on administrative leave.

In addition to the attempted murder charges, Janovsky also faces one count of possessing ammunition or a firearm after the conviction of a crime of violence.

Court documents state Janovsky has multiple prior crimes of violence, including second-degree accessory to murder, terroristic threats, attempted methamphetamine manufacturing, controlled substance crimes and first-degree burglary.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s investigation into the incident is ongoing. When it is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the Waseca County Attorney’s Office for review.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.