Grand jury finds fatal shooting in Cottage Grove justified
A grand jury in Washington County has determined police officers were justified when they fatally shot a man during a traffic stop in Cottage Grove last July.
Washington County Attorney Doug Johnson released the ruling Friday in the death of Jeffrey Lee Clausen, 33, of St. Paul Park.
Johnson says Clausen attempted to sell a rifle to an undercover officer on July 7 and left a parking lot in Cottage Grove in a car driven by his girlfriend. Police later stopped the car to arrest Clausen.
Officers say Clausen got out of the car holding something that appeared to be a weapon. He was fatally shot by four members of the Washington County Special Response Team.
Jurors determined the four officers were justified in using deadly force.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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