City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 21-0040163
Date: January 4, 2021
Time: 03:49 a.m.
Location: 12520 N IH 35 SVRD SB (Springhill Suites)
Arrested: Dylan Michael Polinski, White male, 23 years of age
The Austin Police Department continues to investigate the Officer Involved Shooting that occurred during the early morning hours on Monday, January 4, 2021. On January 3, 2021, at approximately 9:47 p.m., the Austin Police Department received information from the Round Rock Police Department that an armed and dangerous subject wanted for aggravated robbery out of Williamson County was at the Springhill Suites located at 12520 N IH 35. Round Rock Police requested our assistance in locating the subject. At 9:50 p.m., officers arrived at the location and determined that the subject was not on scene.
On January 4, 2021, at 3:48 a.m., APD officers responded to a new 911 call from the Springhill Suites staff indicating that the wanted subject returned to the hotel. At approximately 4:20 a.m., patrol officers attempted to make contact with the subject in an effort to get him to surrender. He was not compliant and barricaded himself in a room with a female that appeared to be held against her will.
Officers secured the scene and contacted APD SWAT to handle the barricaded subject. Several nearby rooms were evacuated, and at approximately 5:20 a.m., APD SWAT arrived on scene.
The subject exited with the female in close proximity to himself and appeared to be using the female as a shield. SWAT was able to escort the female to safety. The subject then ran down the hallway towards a stairwell exit. As he entered the stairwell he was confronted by officers that were securing the exit.
The subject was tased by an officer which led to the suspect closing the door. The taser did not appear to be effective and the suspect opened the door once again and came towards the officers. An officer fired his weapon and the subject was shot. Officers immediately started to administer first aid. EMS responded and transported the subject to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The subject will be treated for his injuries and then booked into jail for the aggravated robbery warrant. Additional charges may follow pending the active investigation. There were no additional injuries.
This incident was captured on body worn camera and per normal protocol, both officers will be placed on paid Administrative Leave. Both officers involved have 2 years of services with the 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.