Clearwater County Sheriff's deputy shoots and kills man following police chase
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A sheriff’s deputy in Clearwater County shot and killed a man following a car chase in the small northwestern Minnesota town of Bagley Thursday afternoon, according to the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.
In an emailed statement, the sheriff’s office says a deputy recognized a man at a gas station whom he knew was wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.
“The deputy approached the male with the intent to take him into custody for the warrant and a physical altercation took place,” the statement said. “During the altercation the male was able to get into his vehicle and flee the scene.”
The deputy pursued the suspect and was joined by other law enforcement officers. Throughout the chase, the man swerved into the wrong lane several times. Officers eventually stopped the man after he drove through one person's lawn and was attempting to drive through a second.
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Once stopped, officers tried to get the man to surrender but he fired what the sheriff's office described as a “flare-type projectile” at them. A deputy returned fire, striking the man, according to the sheriff’s statement. “Life saving measures were performed on the male with the assistance of the Bagley Sanford Ambulance, but the male died at the scene,” the statement said.
One deputy sustained a minor injury. Body cameras were worn and on during the incident.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident. The sheriff's office did not name the officers or the man who was killed.
The fatal shooting happened at a time the Bagley City Council has been considering disbanding its police department to save money. Bagley has just two full time officers and one part-timer, but officials say the police department accounts for about a third of the city’s annual budget. The city would then contract with the sheriff’s office for law enforcement services. Bagley is the Clearwater county seat, and the sheriff’s office is located in town.
