Rochester Man Accused of Biting Woman, Crashing at Hwy. 14 Interserception While Fleeing Police

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is facing four felony charges for a domestic incident that ended with a crash while he was fleeing from police. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Tuesday. 

The alleged incident occurred on Monday morning and resulted in the victim being taken to a hospital. 

Rochester Domestic Assault Suspect Captured After Crash Ending to Police Chase on Hwy. 14

Rochester police responded to the Kwik Trip store on Marion Rd. SE on the report of a woman with a bloody face yelling for help from a vehicle shortly before 5:45 a.m. A witness stated they saw a man and woman enter the store together. 

As he exited the store, the man said he saw the woman in the back seat of the vehicle and the man driving when the woman rolled down the window and asked for help. The vehicle then sped off on Marion Rd. SE, the complaint says. 

Camera footage at the store showed the man appearing to strike the victim after the two had returned to the vehicle from the store, according to the court document. 

Police Chase Ends With Crash on Hwy. 14

About 45 minutes after responding to the Kwik Trip, an officer spotted the vehicle making a left turn onto westbound Hwy. 14 in the area of East Circle Dr. 

The officer, who was traveling east, activated his emergency lights, made a U-turn and began pursuing the vehicle. 

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The driver of the suspect vehicle accelerated, increasing the distance between himself and the officer, who was traveling at 90 mph, the complaint says. 

The suspect reached the intersection of Hwy. 14 and Marion Rd. and was facing a red light while traveling at a high speed. He tried to drive between two vehicles but struck one of them, causing his vehicle to become disabled, the court document says. 

The man took off on foot but was chased down and captured by officers, the charges say. He was identified as 42-year-old Paul Canini Jr. 

Complaint Describes Victim's Injuries

Officers noted the victim had two open wounds on the right side of her face under her lip and had visible red marks and discoloration on her neck, according to the complaint. 

The charges allege Canini Jr. bit, struck and strangled the victim while they were in the car at the Kwik Trip store. He’s also accused of forcing her in the back seat of the vehicle by her neck and refusing to allow her to leave the vehicle. 

Canini Jr. is charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, domestic assault strangulation, fleeing and misdemeanor domestic assault. He’s scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning.