Ramsey County Sheriff’s Sergeant Justified in Killing Gunman

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Mounds View, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Twin Cities law officer was justified in the use of deadly force in response to a shooter who opened fire on police in Mounds View last fall.

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena was asked to review the investigative report submitted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension involving the death of 48-year-old Troy Engstrom. He died from his injuries after he was struck by a Ramsey County Sheriff's Office squad car driven by Sergeant Don Rendal on September 22.

A portion of the County Attorney's statement read, "The use of deadly force by a peace officer is justified to protect the officer or another person from death or great bodily harm. It is my conclusion that given the facts and circumstances of this incident, it was objectively reasonable for Sgt. Rindal to believe Mr. Engstrom posed a deadly threat to him, to Officer Erickson and to members of the public and the time he struck Mr. Engstrom with his squad."

A news release issued by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office the day of the deadly incident says the Ramsey County deputy and Mounds View police officer were pursuing a suspect wanted in a domestic assault case when the man "raised a handgun and fired at the approaching squads." Officials say one bullet hit just below and ended up lodged just above the driver's side windshield of the Mounds View officer’s squad car and another narrowly missed a deputy and struck just below the driver's side windshield of his vehicle.

The officers were responding to a report of a felony domestic assault involving the discharge of a firearm at the hotel and encountered Engstrom outside the building when they drove onto the property.