MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS RELEASE
Bruce Gordon, Director of Communications

CONTACT:
October 18, 2017 Jill Oliveira, 651-793-2726
Alcohol
and Gambling NAMES RELEASED IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN ST. CLOUD
Enforcement

Bureau of
Criminal
ST. PAUL The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
Apprehension today released the name of the sergeant who fired his weapon during an officer involved shooting
incident Monday night in St. Cloud. Sergeant Nathan Stewart has been with the Stearns County
Driver
and Vehicle Sheriffs Office for 14 years.
Services
The BCA has also identified the subject injured during the incident. Lazaro Domingo Diaz, 37, has
Emergency
Communication been staying at the residence where the officer involved shooting incident occurred, but has a
Networks permanent address in Willmar. Mr. Diaz is being treated for non-life threatening injuries at St. Cloud
Homeland
Hospital.
Security and
Emergency Sgt. Stewart and several St. Cloud police officers went to 7118 Northwood Lane in St. Cloud just
Management
before midnight Monday. They were checking on the victim of a reported domestic assault who was
Minnesota believed to be at the residence.
State Patrol
Shortly after investigators knocked on the front door of the one-story home, Mr. Diaz, who is a
Office of
Communications suspect in the domestic assault incident, broke out a back window and jumped out of the home
carrying a handgun.
Office of
Justice Programs
According to the BCAs preliminary investigation, Diaz then fired several shots and ran around the
Office of southwest corner of the home where he immediately encountered Sgt. Stewart. Stewart fired his
Pipeline Safety
weapon, striking Diaz twice in the leg. Two St. Cloud officers deployed Tasers, and as Diaz
Office of struggled with the officers a K9 was utilized in an effort to gain compliance. Officers and
Traffic Safety responding ambulance personnel provided first aid and then Diaz was then transported to the
State Fire Marshal hospital.

Neither the Stearns County Sheriffs Office nor St. Cloud Police Department use body cameras.
Squad cameras did not capture video of the incident. Sgt. Stewart and four St. Cloud officers are on
standard administrative leave.

The BCA is conducting the investigation into the officer involved shooting incident. The St. Cloud
Police Department is investigating the domestic assault.

The BCAs investigation into the shooting is active and ongoing, and all information that is public at
this time has been released. No further updates are planned until the BCA presents the case to the
county attorney for review.

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445 Minnesota Street, Suite 100 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101-5155 dps.mn.gov facebook.com/MnPublicSafety @MnDPS_DPS