Lino Lakes Officer Hurt After Fatally Shooting Driver Who Dragged Him
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One man is dead and a police officer is hurt after an officer-involved shooting in the north metro Friday night.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says the shooting happened during a traffic stop on Interstate 694 in Fridley at about 10:52 p.m.
Lino Lakes Police Officer Sgt. William Owens pulled a driver over for speeding as part of a multi-agency traffic enforcement detail in that area.
Authorities say the driver, 31-year-old Sam Matthew Holmes of New Brighton, had outstanding warrants and was suspected of driving under the influence. A struggle ensued after Holmes got out of his vehicle, and the officer tried to subdue him with a Taser.
Holmes then got back into his vehicle and drove off with Sgt. Owens holding on. The officer was dragged for some distance on the freeway before he shot and struck Holmes, and then fell onto the interstate.
Holmes's vehicle left the road, drove through a fence and eventually came to a stop in the parking lot of Cub Foods off University Avenue and 57th Avenue Northeast. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"In an attempt to get away from the vehicle, the officer discharged his weapon and a male individual is deceased," Don Abbott, director of public safety for the City of Fridley, said.
Westbound I-694 was closed for several hours after the incident.
Sgt. Owens is a 13-year veteran of the Lino Lakes Police Department, including nine years as a police officer. He's currently on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.
He was treated and released from St. Paul's Regions Hospital.
The BCA is investigating.
