Court records show man shot by police had history of mental illness
The man shot and killed by St. Paul police after a standoff Monday had a history of mental illness and drug use, according to court records.
Police said Tuesday that Justin Todd Tolkinen, 28, died in a confrontation at a home on White Bear Avenue on St. Paul's East Side. Witnesses say he was holding a rifle and appeared to be wearing an armored vest. As he swore and made threatening remarks, police tried to talk to him and said they used non-lethal means to subdue him before firing.
Court records show Tolkinen was civilly committed by Ramsey County as mentally ill for six monthlong stays in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
According to an order for commitment signed in July 2008, a Ramsey County judge concluded Tolkinen was a mentally ill and chemically dependent person.
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The order says he was a "pleasant gentleman" while on medication, but otherwise could be a danger to himself and others. Before his 2008 commitment, police had to control him when he became angry and aggressive trying to trade two movies for cigarettes.
Two court-appointed examiners for the commitment found he had a history of methamphetamine abuse.
His criminal record shows he'd had a few minor traffic violations and a DWI in 2013.
Tolkinen spent time in residential treatment for chemical dependency and underwent intense residential treatment services for bipolar disorder.
On Tuesday, the police department also identified the officers involved in the incident: Mark Farrington, Brian Hall, Patrick Murphy and Jermaine Davis. All four are on standard, three-day paid leave. They have served between five and 19 years with St. Paul police.
Efforts to reach Tolkinen's family members were unsuccessful.