UPDATE: Traffic stop led to officer-involved Minnesota shooting
Two suspects are in custody after an early morning officer-involved shooting in Houston County, Minnesota.
The La Crescent Police Department says around 1:30a.m. Monday officers encountered two male subjects acting suspiciously at a Kwik Trip.
After following them out of the gas station they later pulled them over for a traffic stop in Hokah. That's when the departments says the male suspects fired shots and then drove off.
Main Street Saloon owner, Joanne Karenzke says she heard the shots.
“Living in a small town you don't expect that, and Hokah being so small, so it was frightening,” said Karenzke. “I figured it wasn't good to be hearing shots at 1:30 in the morning in town.”
The department says the suspects eventually crashed into a bean field in Caledonia where they ran away and then later surrender.
No officers were injured however, one suspect was taken to Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
The investigation has been turned over to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Both suspects have been booked in the La Crosse County Jail for probable cause attempted murder. Charges are expected in the next few days.
La Crescent Police officers don't use body cameras but squad car cameras did capture the incident and while the investigation is still in its early stages more information is expected after initial interviews.
State Highway 44 was closed at Hokah and County Rd 20 as part of the investigation.
Highway 16 at the intersection of Millers Corner was also temporarily closed for scene processing.
CALEDONIA, Minn. (WEAU) --
Crews have re-opened a stretch of highway near the scene of an officer-involved shooting.
said Highway 44 is open to traffic. Crews had Highway 16 at the intersection of Highway 26 (Millers Corner) temporarily closed for scene processing at the time. The message asks drivers to take alternate routes. It said that the department would notify users when it is open again.
It also said that Highway 26 will remain open.
CALEDONIA, Minn. (WEAU) -- Deputies caught two people believed to be involved in an officer-involved shooting after a car chase through Houston County, Minnesota.
The Houston County Sheriff's Office did not name the people involved in a news release posted to its Facebook page early Monday afternoon. It said that the La Crescent Police Department found two people "behaving suspiciously" at a Kwik Trip on S. 3rd Street around 1:30 a.m. Monday. After the people left in the same vehicle, officers pulled them over at Highway 44 and Highway 16 in Hokah. That's when investigators say the officers "encountered gunfire" and shot back. The vehicle took off. Officers chased the vehicle, which ended up crashing into a bean field near Highway 44 and Carpenter Road in Caledonia. Both people ran into the field, but eventually surrendered.
One of them was taken to a La Crosse hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The release said he was then booked into the La Crosse County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. The other person was also booked into the La Crosse County Jail on the same potential charge.
The release went on to say that squad car cameras captured video of the shooting, but that the department does not use body cameras. It said neither officer was hurt and both officers are now on "standard administrative leave."
It also said that Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will finish interviewing people who were involved in the shooting or witnessed it. When the investigation is finished, the BCA will forward the findings to the Houston County Attorney’s Office for review.
CALEDONIA, Minn. (HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE) -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating an officer involved shooting incident that occurred early this morning in Houston County.
Two La Crescent Police Department officers encountered two male subjects behaving suspiciously at the Kwik Trip at 319 S. 3rd Street in La Crescent around 1:30 a.m. Monday.
After the two males left the gas station, the officers pulled over their vehicle at Highway 44 and Highway 16 in Hokah. During the traffic stop, the officers encountered gunfire and they returned fire.
The subjects’ vehicle fled the scene and a pursuit ensued. It ended when the subjects’ vehicle crashed into a bean field near Highway 44 & Carpenter Road in Caledonia. Both subjects initially exited the vehicle and ran into the field. They eventually surrendered.
One of the subjects injured during the incident was taken by ambulance to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. He was then booked into the La Crosse County (Wisc.) Jail on probable cause attempted murder.
The uninjured male was booked into the Houston County Jail on probable cause attempted murder. Charges are expected within the next few days.
Neither officer was injured during the incident. Both are on standard administrative leave.
The La Crescent Police Department does not use body cameras. Squad cameras captured video of the shooting incident.
This investigation is in its very early stages. The BCA will provide additional information once initial interviews with incident participants and any witnesses are completed. When the investigation is complete, the BCA will turn its findings over to the Houston County Attorney’s Office for review.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Caledonia Police Department and Minnesota State Patrol are providing assistance at the scenes.
The BCA conducts officer involved shooting investigations the same way it does other conflict investigations. BCA agents interview witnesses and the people involved in the incident; collect, analyze and review evidence; and conduct follow-up interviews as needed to ultimately find all of the facts of a case.
The agency involved in the incident has no input regarding the investigative direction of the case. As an independent fact finder, the BCA does not decide or determine the outcome of a case. As it does in all investigations, the BCA will present its findings without recommendations to a county attorney for review.
CALEDONIA, Minn. (WEAU) -- Two suspects are in custody after an early morning officer-involved shooting in Houston County, MN.
According to the Houston County Sheriff's Office, no officers were injured and there is no threat to the public. Currently, State Highway 44 is closed at Hokah and County Road 20. It's because part of the investigation in that area has been turned over to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
did not identify the people involved or include further details about the shooting.
The sheriff says the closure is expected to last a good portion of the day.
