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Names Released of Officers Involved in Shooting in St. Cloud This Week

10/20/2017 - 10:45 AM

The names of individuals involved in the officer involved shooting in St. Cloud  earlier this week have been released.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who continue to review the case, the officer who fired his weapon during the incident was Sergeant Nathan Stewart, a 14-year veteran of the Stearns County Sheriff's Department. The BCA says officers were investigating a possible domestic assault just before midnight Monday at a home on Northwood Lane when an armed 37-year-old Lazaro Diaz broke out a back window and attempted to flee. Diaz reportedly shot several shots around the southwest corner of the home at the chasing officers.

Stewart fired his weapon, hitting Diaz twice in the leg. Two officers used tasers to apprehend Diaz as well as a K9 to completely take him down. St. Cloud officers and Stearns County deputies do not use body cameras at this time, so there is no video of the incident.

Diaz is being treated for non-life threatening injuries in the St. Cloud Hospital. Officials say he had been staying at the residence at the time of the incident, but his permanent residence is Willmar.  Sergeant Stewart and the four police officers with him are on standard administrative leave.

The St. Cloud Police Department is continuing the investigation into domestic assault.