WASECA — A Waseca County District Court judge on Tuesday set unconditional bail at $3 million for the man charged with shooting and severely injuring a Waseca police officer last month. 

Tyler Janovsky faces three counts of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer for the three officers he reportedly shot at Jan. 6 when they responded to a report of a suspicious person in the backyard of a residence on Third Avenue Southeast in Waseca. 

When they arrived, Janovksy was on the back balcony of a house and then fled to the roof of the attached garage and ultimately started opening fire on the officers, according to court documents. 

Janovsky’s public defender, Lauri Traub, did not argue the bail, as she said Janovsky was expected to be in custody of the Minnesota Department of Corrections until June 4. She could bring the issue up at a later time. 

Janovsky was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair by Waseca County Sheriff’s Office deputies as a full courtroom of people looked on. Instead of the long hair and beard that he had in his arrest photo from January, his hair and beard had been cut short. 

The audience in the courtroom included at least two dozen law enforcement officers from the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Waseca Police Department and Department of Natural Resources; ambulance crews from North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale; as well as others wearing clothing in support of law enforcement officers and Officer Arik Matson, who Janovsky allegedly shot in the head. 

Court documents state Janovksy was struck by gunfire and was treated for non life-threatening injuries at North Memorial Health Hospital. Officials have not stated where he sustained injury, and he is presently in the state correctional facility in Oak Park Heights. 

Waseca County Attorney Rachel Cornelius said Janovsky has spent more time in prison over the course of his adulthood than he has out of prison, including charges of accessory to murder, controlled substance crimes and first-degree burglary. 

Cornelius said a probation officer and a Waseca police officer went to conduct a probation check on Janovsky on Dec. 13, and a member of the family alerted him that they were there. Instead of meeting with them that day, he reportedly fled the house with at least one gun. 

She referenced a comment he reportedly made to family members to commit “suicide by cop” and described him as a public safety and flight risk. 

In addition to the $3 million unconditional bail option, Waseca County District Court Judge Carol Hanks set conditional bail at $2 million in the case. To take this option, Janovsky would need to follow a series of conditions, including no contact with the three officers who were reportedly shot at during the incident or with anyone on the Waseca Police Department. 

He would also be subject to random drug and alcohol testing, not be allowed to use alcohol or controlled substances, not be allowed to use or possess firearms or dangerous weapons, and not be allowed to leave the state without written permission, among other conditions.

Hanks passed a $500,000 unconditional bail and $250,000 conditional bail in a separate case where Janovsky was charged in December with first-degree methamphetamine manufacturing, possessing ammunition or a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence, fifth-degree drug possession and possession of methamphetamine precursors with intent to manufacture. Similar conditions applied in that case.

Janovsky’s next hearing is slated for 1 p.m. April 14.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.