Minnesota State Trooper Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Rochester Crash
Olivia Flores. Photo via GoFundMe
A Minnesota State Trooper pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to a crash that killed a young woman in Rochester earlier this year.
Trooper Shane Roper, 32, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, five counts of criminal vehicular operation, reckless driving and careless driving following the death of Olivia Flores, 18, of Owatonna. The crash occurred on May 18 at the intersection of Apache Mall Drive and 12th Street SW.
Olmsted County prosecutors described the incident as a high-speed crash, stating that Roper’s squad car was traveling at 83 mph—more than twice the speed limit—without its lights and sirens on when it T-boned a Ford Focus carrying Flores and her friends. Investigators reported that Roper was attempting to catch up to another driver who had committed a traffic offense, A 20-year-old man was also riding along with Roper in his squad at the time.
In Olmsted County Court, Roper waived his right to an omnibus hearing and requested a jury trial, which is set to begin on March 31, 2025. A settlement conference is also scheduled for Nov. 21, 2024.
Judge Christa Daily set conditions that allow Roper to be released without monetary bail under certain conditions or with a $100,000 bail if those conditions are not met.
This hearing marked Roper's first court appearance after being charged in early July. He has been on paid investigative leave since the crash. Internal records from the State Patrol indicate that Roper has been involved in multiple crashes over his eight-year career with the agency, leading to disciplinary actions but resulting in a short suspension.
UPDATE: State Trooper Terminated Following Fatal Rochester Crash
A GoFundMe for Flores has raised over $40,000 since it began.
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