SWAT situation in North Austin leads to officer-involved shooting

Officials say Polinski appeared to use the woman he was with as a shield.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department says a suspect is in custody after a SWAT situation in North Austin that led to an officer-involved shooting. The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Dylan Michael Polinski.

The incident began on January 3 at around 9:47 p.m. when APD says it received information from the Round Rock Police Department that an armed and dangerous person, wanted for aggravated robbery out of Williamson County, was at the Springhill Suites located at 12520 N I-35.

Round Rock police requested assistance in locating the suspect, identified as Polinski, and at 9:50 p.m. officers arrived and it was determined Polinski was not at the scene.

Then at around 3:48 a.m. on January 4, Austin police responded to a new 911 call from Springhill Suites indicating that Polinski had returned to the hotel. At around 4:20 a.m., officers attempted to make contact with Polinski to get him to surrender but he didn't comply and barricaded himself inside a room with a woman that police said appeared to be there against her will.

Police provide update on officer-involved shooting - 1/4/21

Austin police discuss details of a SWAT situation that led to an officer-involved shooting.

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Officers secured the scene and several nearby rooms were evacuated. APD SWAT was called and arrived at around 5:20 a.m.

Officials say Polinski left the room and appeared to use the woman he was with as a shield. SWAT was able to escort the woman to safety as Polinski then ran down the hallway towards a stairwell exit. As Polinski entered the stairwell he was confronted by officers securing the exit.

Polisnki was tased by an officer, but the taser did not appear to be effective. Polinski headed towards the officers again, police say that's when an officer fired his weapon and Polinski was shot.

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Officers began to administer first aid and EMS responded. Polinski was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were hurt and there were no additional injuries.

Polinski will be treated and then booked into jail for the aggravated robbery warrant. Officials say additional charges may follow pending investigation.

The incident was captured on body camera and per protocol, officials say that the two officers involved will be placed on administrative leave. Both officers have two years of service with the Austin Police Department.

APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident; one is a criminal investigation by APD's Special Investigation Unit in conjunction with the District Attorney's Office, and the other is an administrative investigation that will be conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.