Rochester Police Incident Review
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Enforcement Division reported that on March 11, around 9:30 p.m., Rochester police and social workers were dispatched to an apartment on Ashland Drive Northwest. They responded to a report of a man experiencing a mental health crisis.
Upon arrival, the police and social workers spoke with the man in his apartment, where an adult woman and several children were also present. They observed the man displaying erratic and paranoid behavior, which led them to believe he might pose a risk to himself or others.
The individual, identified later as 47-year-old Cleavon White, was detained for mental health evaluation for 72 hours and informed he would be taken to a hospital.
According to the department, officers sought to take White into custody, but he resisted, resulting in a struggle. It was indicated that during this altercation, White “grabbed the officer’s gun and pulled the trigger, causing the officer to discharge his weapon.”
Body camera footage captured the moment when an officer announced, “I’m grabbing a gun!” Shortly thereafter, another officer fired five shots. The department noted that White was hit by the gunfire, and officers provided immediate medical assistance until an ambulance arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
After the shooting, body camera video indicated an officer inquiring about the gun’s location, while another voice mentioned, “It’s still in the holster.” Thankfully, no officers sustained injuries during the incident.
Officer Josiah Dewitt, who has three years of experience, fired his department-issued firearm. Following the incident, the Rochester police placed him on major incident leave.
A March 12 news release from the Rochester Police Department stated that during the struggle, White did grab the officer’s gun, but there was no evidence to suggest he fired it. The Criminal Bureau is expected to release a report regarding the incident on March 17.
The Rochester Police Department has initiated a use-of-force investigation, intending to submit its findings without a recommendation for charges to the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office for further inquiry.
