Man charged in Waseca police officer shooting wheeled out on gurney after first court appearance

WASECA, Minn. (FOX 9) - The man charged for shooting a Waseca police officer in the head last month made his first court appearance Tuesday. 

Officials transported Tyler Janovksy to the courthouse by a North Memorial Health ambulance. He was wheeled out in a gurney to and from the courthouse and was pushed in a wheelchair during the hearing. Janovksy was shot by police during the incident on January 6. Officials have said his injuries were not life-threatening, but it was unclear where he was injured.

The 37-year-old was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by an ineligible person.

According to the criminal complaint, on January 6 around 8 p.m., Waseca police responded to a report of a suspicious person with a flashlight in the 900 block of 3rd Avenue SE. When they arrived they saw Janovsky standing on the rear balcony of a home. He ran off, ending up on the roof of the attached garage. While on the roof, Janovsky shot at the officers, hitting Officer Arik Matson in the head.

According to a search warrant, when investigators interviewed Janovksy's mother she said he had discussed committing suicide by cop in the weeks before the shooting.

At the hearing, a judge set bail without conditions at $3 million and bail with conditions at $2.5 millions. Among the conditions would be no contact with the Waseca Police Department. Even with bail set, Janovsky will stay in Oak Park Heights state prison until at least June, where he’s being held for a parole violation.

During the hearing, the prosecutor also pointed out Janovsky has spent a majority of his adult life in jail or prison. 

He will be back in court for the charges regarding the Waseca shooting in April. 

Officer Matson was recently released from the intensive care unit to an acute care facility, according to updates on his CaringBridge page.