MN Crime Complaint Against Rochester Police Department Dismissed

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings has dismissed MN Crime’s complaint against the Rochester Police Department (RPD).

MN Crime says there were open records violations following the fatal crash in May near the Apache Mall that killed Olivia Flores, 18, of Owatonna. MN Crime was specifically seeking videos related to the crash, arguing that “since Rochester police claimed excessive force was involved in the crash in a criminal affidavit,” the department had to release the videos.

However, administrative judge Suzanne Todnem does not agree with MN Crime’s request.

In his September 25 order dismissing the complaint, Todnem said, “(MN Crime) has not established probable cause to believe that (RPD) violated the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) by failing to produce the data of the portable recording system requested regarding the fatal accident of May 18, 2024.”

She then went on to claim that MN Crime’s request for Roper’s body camera footage was not public because it was currently being used in a criminal investigation and legal proceeding and therefore could not be returned.

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