Brooklyn Center Man Shot by Police Now Charged With Assault

Jun 19

*After an officer-involved shooting in Brooklyn Center.* ***MN CRIME PHOTO***

*The scene of an officer-involved shooting on June 11 in Brooklyn Center.* ***MN CRIME PHOTO***

A Brooklyn Center man has been charged after he allegedly threatened officers with a running chainsaw and was shot multiple times by police last week.

Damon Andreas Constans Jr., 23, is charged in Hennepin County with two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of threats of violence with reckless disregard, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

> Sign up for the MN CRIME newsletter

Brooklyn Center officers responded around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 to a domestic incident on the 6400 block of Humboldt Avenue North. When they arrived, they encountered a woman who was reportedly armed with a knife and had allegedly tried to stab her adult son, later identified as Constans. Officers arrested the woman and secured the scene.

After the woman was taken into custody, Constans returned inside the home and locked the door, refusing to come out. Police said Constans continued talking with officers through the doorway before arming himself with a chainsaw. Officers backed away and ordered him multiple times to drop the weapon. Instead, Constans started the chainsaw, stepped out the south front door, and ran toward officers. Police deployed less-lethal rounds, including pepper balls and a 40mm launcher, but he did not stop. Officers then opened fire.

PREVIOUSLY: Man Armed With Chainsaw Shot by Brooklyn Center Police

Radio dispatches at the time indicated that Constans was transported from the 3300 block of 68th Avenue North around 11:45 p.m. in cardiac arrest after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Brooklyn Center police later confirmed he was taken to North Memorial and remained hospitalized in stable condition.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene and is investigating the use-of-force. Brooklyn Center police said the involved officers have been placed on critical incident leave.

Prosecutors requested a warrant for Constans’ arrest citing public safety concerns. The court issued the warrant and ordered him held on $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison on each assault charge and up to five years on each threats of violence charge.

> See more of our latest coverage