Man dead following officer involved shooting in central Minnesota

February 14, 2022

EDEN VALLEY, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after a man was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with police following a pursuit early Saturday, authorities said.

The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened around 2:20 a.m. just west of Eden Valley.

A police officer earlier tried to pull a vehicle over for a traffic offense in Eden Valley, but the driver took off on Highway 55. The chase ended about a mile later when the vehicle drove into a ditch, Sheriff Brian Cruze said in a statement. Eden Valley is about 30 miles southwest of St. Cloud.

The driver got out of the vehicle and exchanged gunfire with the officer. After the man was shot, the officer began life-saving measures, Cruze said. First responders and sheriff’s deputies responded. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Eden Valley police do not wear body cameras, but a camera in the squad car recorded what happened. A handgun was recovered at the scene.

The name of the slain man and the officers involved have not been released. Cruze said the man was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Officer for identification.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.