Supreme Court Upholds Conviction In Mendota Heights Officer's Death

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of a man who killed a Mendota Heights police officer.

Brian Fitch shot and killed Officer Scott Patrick during a traffic stop in West St. Paul in 2014. He was also convicted of attempted murder and assault for a shootout with police during his arrest.

Because the shooting of Officer Patrick and the shootout with police happened in separate counties, Fitch argued that he should have had two trials rather than one. Fitch's trial was held in Stearns County, with a jury made up of people from both Dakota and Ramsey counties.

In its decision denying Fitch's appeal, the court said Fitch did not have a right to be tried by a Ramsey County jury on the Ramsey County charges because he could not have had a fair trial there.