BCA Identifies Officers, Suspect in Frazee Rest Stop Shooting

Jul 15

A man remains hospitalized after he allegedly pointed a gun at law enforcement officers during a pursuit that ended in an exchange of gunfire at a rest stop near Frazee last week.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the man shot by officers is 36-year-old Todd Ole Burris, of Bemidji.

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The agency said Lieutenant Luke Sweere, of the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, and Officer Philip Vaughn, of the Detroit Lakes Police Department, opened fire during the confrontation. Both officers are on critical incident leave. Sweere has served in law enforcement for 26 years and Vaughn for 16 years.

According to initial information from the BCA, deputies were called just after 5:30 p.m. on July 9 to the 20000 block of Becker County Highway 21 in rural Detroit Lakes for a domestic assault report. A woman said Burris assaulted her, took her handgun, slashed her tires and fled in a vehicle. Lieutenant Sweere located Burris in Detroit Lakes and initiated a traffic stop. Burris reportedly pulled over and spoke with the lieutenant before suddenly fleeing.

Officer Vaughn joined the pursuit as Burris drove into Otter Tail County. He eventually pulled into the Highway 10 rest stop in Frazee, where authorities say he partially exited his car and pointed a gun at Lieutenant Sweere. Both officers fired at Burris, who was struck in both legs. Officers provided medical aid at the scene until paramedics arrived and transported Burris to a hospital in Fargo. Authorities say he remains hospitalized. Once released, Burris is expected to be booked into the Otter Tail County Jail on various charges.

PREVIOUSLY: Suspect Hospitalized After Officer-Involved Shooting at Frazee Rest Stop

No officers were injured in the exchange. The BCA recovered a handgun and spent shell casings at the scene. Both officers were wearing body cameras and the footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office requested the BCA to lead the use-of-force investigation and findings will be forwarded to the county attorney’s office once complete. Authorities have not said whether Burris fired his weapon during the encounter.

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