Suspect Killed After Firing Flare at Clearwater County Deputies

Nov 13

A man with a felony warrant was fatally shot by a Clearwater County deputy early Thursday afternoon after a physical struggle outside a gas station and ensuing vehicle pursuit.

The sheriff’s office said the incident started around 12:12 p.m. when a deputy on patrol saw a man at the gas pumps of the Cenex store on the 1300 block of Central Street West.

The deputy recognized him and knew he was wanted on a felony warrant, the sheriff’s office said.

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When the deputy approached to take him into custody, a fight broke out. During the struggle the man got back into his vehicle and sped away.

The deputy chased him east on U.S. Highway 2 and was soon joined by other Clearwater County deputies and Bagley police officers. Authorities said the man drove into westbound lanes at times as he fled. Attempts to block him failed and he kept heading east. He eventually cut through the yard of a home, drove north onto McDougal Avenue NW and went through another yard where law enforcement was finally able to stop the vehicle.

Deputies and officers tried to remove him from the vehicle, but the sheriff’s office said the man fired a weapon that shot a flare-type projectile toward them. A deputy fired back and hit him. Life-saving efforts were started with help from Bagley Sanford Ambulance, but he died at the scene.

One deputy had a minor injury, the sheriff’s office confirmed in a written statement late Thursday afternoon.

Officials said all involved deputies and officers had their body cameras activated. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was brought in to investigate and authorities have not yet released the man’s name.

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