OLIVIA - A Olivia man is charged with pointing a loaded gun at a Renville police officer and saying he was going to make the officer shoot him.
Ricardo Mario Rodriguez, 28, made his first court appearance Wednesday in Renville County District Court on three felony charges: first-degree assault, second-degree assault and possession of a firearm or ammunition after conviction for a crime of violence.
According to court documents, a Renville police officer, Minnesota State Patrol trooper and deputies from the Renville County Sheriff's Office arrived Dec. 29 at a residence in the city of Renville after a caller asked for Rodriguez to be removed from the home. The caller told law enforcement that Rodriguez usually carries weapons and is affiliated with gangs, court documents said.
When law enforcement arrived on scene, they were told Rodriguez was in the garage with the doors locked. When contact was made, a Renville officer told Rodriguez to show his hands. Rodriguez put a small-caliber pistol to his head, documents state.
Rodriguez was ordered to put the gun down, and he allegedly said "shoot me" to the officers, who were trying to reason with Rodriguez.
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Rodriguez refused to put the gun down.
At one point during the altercation, according to court documents, Rodriguez told the Renville police officer, "I will make you shoot me," and then pointed the gun at the officer and took a few steps toward the officer. The officer backed out of the garage and saw that Rodriguez had put the gun back to his own head, documents state.
Various attempts to subdue or disarm Rodriguez were unsuccessful, the court documents said, and eventually Rodriguez did surrender.
After Rodriguez was arrested, the pistol was found to have been fully loaded with a live round in the chamber of the gun.
Rodriguez was previously found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas in March 2011.
Rodriguez's next court date in Renville County is March 2 for a settlement conference.
