Officer Patrick's accused killer makes court appearance
The man accused of killing Mendota Heights Police Officer Scott Patrick in July made his first appearance on updated charges in Dakota County District Court on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege that Brian Fitch Sr. shot Patrick during a routine traffic stop in West St. Paul on July 30. The shooting was followed by a massive manhunt by law enforcement officers from across the Twin Cities metro area. Police shot Fitch eight times during his capture on St. Paul's North End a few hours after Patrick was killed.
• Sept. 12: Fitch indicted in murder of Mendota Heights police officer
A combined Ramsey and Dakota County grand jury on Sept. 12 indicted Fitch on charges of first-degree murder. He also is charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder for shooting at police officers during his capture and one count for illegal possession of a weapon.
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Fitch, 39 came into the courtroom Thursday in a wheelchair pushed by a Dakota County Sheriff's deputy. He kept silent during the proceedings, except to confer quietly with his attorney.
Assistant Public Defender Lauri Traub requested a speedy omnibus hearing, which Judge Mary Theisen set for Oct. 20. Fitch will likely issue his pleas in the case at that hearing.
Traub also asked the judge to order prosecutors to turn over all the evidence that law enforcement agencies have gathered since the shooting.
Dakota County Attorney Chief Deputy Phil Prokopowicz told the court that the evidence in the case is being compiled by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and includes at least five binders that consist only of police reports from the agencies involved in the manhunt. He said they will turn the records over to the defense in a week or so.
The judge also ordered that grand jury transcripts be released to the defense, but warned that they should not be made public.
Fitch is being held in the Oak Park Heights correctional facility, which contains medical facilities. He is being held without bail for violating his probation on a previous assault conviction and on $3 million bail for the charges listed in the indictment.