Minnesota police association files complaint against Hennepin Co. attorney for "unethical behavior" in Ryan Londregan case
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association has filed a formal complaint against Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, alleging she acted unethically in prosecuting a state trooper who shot and killed a driver during a traffic stop.
The association's complaint, filed with the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board Tuesday, alleged Moriarty and her office "violated several of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct" in charging Minnesota State Patrol trooper Ryan Londregan.
"Gross. Inexcusable," said Brian Peters, executive director of the MPPOA.
Two clear and simple words from Peters regarding Moriarty's conduct in the prosecution of Londregan.
"She continues to double down, has never apologized, and here we are," said Peters.
The 17-page complaint filed with the Professional Responsibilities Board includes three specific violations of the rules of conduct all attorneys must follow.
"First, she lied about various facts regarding the case. Second, she did so with intent to prejudice a jury, should it ultimately go to trial. Third, she engaged in a variety of conduct that undermined the administration of justice," said Jim Schultz, the attorney filing the complaint.
The police association's complaint comes one day after the BCA released case files in Londregan's case. It includes over a thousand pages of documents, more than 400 pictures, and hundreds of hours of video.
"Based off the training declarations from four of the trainers, Ryan followed policy," said Peters.
Some of Moriarty's cited statements include allegations about trooper Londregan disregarding his training in killing Ricky Cobb II, which the complaint alleges were knowingly false.
"We've proven, beyond a reasonable doubt that what she has done has been unjust, unfair and despicable for a county attorney," said Peters.
In a statement, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office called the complaint unsurprising, saying that the MPPOA has "consistently lobbied against attempts to hold law enforcement accountable and opposed regulations that would ban law enforcement from being involved in white supremacist groups."
Moriarty was asked about the police association's complaint at news conference announcing a new policy to end the criminalization of pregnancy for those struggling with substance abuse.
"We are here today to talk about this," responded Moriarty.
She ignored the question and then left without responding to a follow-up.
If the ethics complaint is investigated, a board could discipline Moriarty.
Londregan fatally shot Ricky Cobb II on July 31, 2023, after he and another Minnesota State Patrol trooper pulled Cobb over for inactive taillights. After finding out Cobb was wanted in Ramsey County for violating a no-contact order, the troopers demanded he get out of his car.
Body camera footage shows Cobb refusing before driving away when a trooper tried to unbuckle his seat belt. That's when Londregan shot Cobb twice.
Cobb's car stayed in motion, causing the other trooper to fall to the ground. After the vehicle stopped, Cobb was found dead inside.
Moriarty's office charged Londregan with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in January, and he subsequently pleaded not guilty. In June, the charges against Londregan were dropped. Moriarty said her office learned new information about Londregan's planned testimony and state patrol training that would "make it impossible" to prove the case against Londregan.
The police association's complaint alleges Moriarty and her office "repeatedly courted pretrial publicity that they knew would be substantially likely to materially prejudice a jury"; "knowingly [made] false statements of fact while representing the State against Trooper Londregan"; and engaged in "conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice."
"Moriarty's conduct is beneath the dignity of her office. Yet rather than acknowledge her errors in judgment or the deficiencies in the process she oversaw, Moriarty has repeatedly called her unjustifiable prosecution of an innocent man not only 'ethical,' but 'courageous,'" the complaint said. "This body should not abide such brazen disregard for the responsibilities of any attorney, but particularly not for the elected prosecutor of this state's largest county."
The complaint accuses Moriarty of making "numerous extrajudicial statements" in news releases, statements and on social media that would "be substantially likely to materially prejudice a jury." Some of the comments cited include allegations about Londregan disregarding his training in killing Cobb, which the complaint alleges were "knowingly false." The complaint states at least two use-of-force experts, plus other law enforcement members, told Moriarty's office Londregan's actions did not warrant charges.
The police association also takes issue with the criminal complaint filed against Londregan, saying a trainer quoted in the complaint later said it "lies by omission" and "purposefully mislead[s] the reader" regarding his comments. The police association complaint also states Moriarty "repeatedly claimed that none of the troopers on the scene told Cobb he was under arrest," but in the complaint her office filed, a trooper is quoted as saying, "This is now a lawful arrest" to Cobb.
The final allegation in the complaint is that Moriarty fell "far short of acting as a minister of justice" in the Londregan case.
"Taken together, Moriarty's conduct can be explained only by a desire to prosecute a peace officer — regardless of the facts — to achieve political ends," the filing states.