Trooper charged for crash that resulted in teen’s death pleads not guilty, trial scheduled
A Minnesota state trooper charged for his alleged role in a crash that killed a Owatonna High School cheerleader earlier this year in Rochester pleaded not guilty to all counts during a hearing on Thursday.
Shane Roper, 32, is charged with one count of second-degree manslaughter, five counts of criminal vehicular operation, one count of reckless driving and one count of careless driving for the death of 18-year-old Olivia Flores on May 18 outside the Apache Mall.
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During Thursday’s hearing in Olmsted County Court, records show Roper waived an omnibus hearing and demanded a jury trial, which is currently scheduled to start on March 31. However, a settlement conference has also been scheduled for Nov. 21 of this year.
Judge Christa Daily set his bail on Thursday at $0 with conditions and $100,000 without them.
As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, Roper was initially charged in early July. However, Thursday’s hearing was his first for this case. He has been on paid investigative leave since the crash, which happened on May 18 at the intersection of Apache Mall Drive and 12th Street Southwest.
Olmsted County prosecutors say it was a high-speed crash, saying Roper’s squad had been traveling at 83 mph — more than twice the speed limit — with its lights and sirens off when it T-boned a Ford Focus carrying Olivia Flores and her friends.
Investigators say Roper was attempting to catch up to another driver who had committed a traffic offense. A 20-year-old man was riding along with the trooper as well.
Internal documents from the Minnesota State Patrol show Roper has a history of being involved with crashes during his eight years with the agency. Records show he was written up after each incident, and all together, has faced only one day of suspension.
“Based on what we know from Minnesota State Patrol’s training standards, their driving school, things like that, this is contrary to the way Minnesota State Patrol would normally expect their drivers to conduct themselves,” Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said.
Carlos and Stephanie Flores, Olivia’s parents, say they’re now looking for justice beyond her death after learning about his driving record.
“I had prepared myself to forgive this person initially, but when we found out the information, that breaks your foundation for forgiveness,” Carlos Flores said in an interview with KAAL-TV, a sister station of KSTP.
“I want accountability. Somebody needs to take responsibility, beyond Roper, for the four previous incidents of the same issue, but nothing was done,” Stephanie Flores said during that same interview.
Roper’s attorney, Eric Nelson, had no comment after the hearing.