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Friday, June 08, 2007

Man shoots cop in self defense

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posted by Bob at Friday, June 08, 2007

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Coon Rapids man said he fired in 'self defense' as he walks out of jail without charges
Investigators refuse to release name of officer, who suspect's family says pulled a gun on them
BY MARY BAUER AND DAVE ORRICK
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 06/08/2007 02:34:27 PM CDT


Martin Scott Treptow


The Coon Rapids man arrested in the Thursday shooting of an undercover police officer in a road rage confrontation said he shot in "self defense" as he was released this afternoon without being charged.

After meeting with Coon Rapids police, prosecutors opted today to not charge 35-year-old Martin Scott Treptow, said the prosecutor overseeing the case. The investigation, though, into the entire incident continues, prosecutors said.

Witnesses described Thursday shooting as the culmination of a rolling argument that escalated into an apparent full-blown case of road rage. The suspect's family said Treptow fired only after a man pulled a gun on them and they had no idea he was an officer. Treptow said outside the jail this afternoon, that the officer drew his gun first.

Police arrested Treptow shortly after the shooting after he called police from a nearby gas station.

A day after the shooting, the cop's bosses at the Robbinsdale Police Department continue to refuse to release the officer's name.

Coon Rapids police did not rule out the county prosecutor filing charges against the officer. Officials with the Anoka County attorney's office said no charges will be filed in this case at this time.

"At this point we are giving the county attorney's office everything we have. We are not giving any recommendation, one way or the other," Coon Rapids Deputy Chief Timothy Snell said this morning.

Meanwhile, Treptow's family, who last night told the Pioneer Press
they were only protecting themselves from a "renegade cop" who had pulled a gun on them, refused to comment this morning.
On Thursday, Robbinsdale Police Chief Wayne Shellum said his officer was just doing his job. But Treptow's father said last night the plainclothes officer threatened his family with his gun and that Treptow shot him to protect his family.

"This is a case of people letting their tempers get out of control," Snell said. "It escalated and became a deadly force situation just because of some petty misdemeanor driving issues."

Police refused Thursday to release the 27-year-old officer's name, saying he was working undercover, but he is described as a six-year veteran of the Robbinsdale police force. He sustained injuries to both legs and an arm, although investigators aren't sure how many shots were fired.

The incident was particularly dangerous, Snell said, because the area was crowded with people. Many now are witnesses, he said.

Here is the account Coon Rapids police have pieced together so far:

The officer and Treptow were headed south on Woodcrest Drive Northwest toward 99th Avenue in Coon Rapids just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Treptow, his wife, Rebecca, and their two children, ages 6 months and 6 years, were in a Buick Rendezvous SUV. The officer drove an unmarked police car. The original dispute began at a stop sign.

Snell said investigators weren't sure what started the dispute but that it was something petty.

Both vehicles turned east on 99th Avenue. The altercation continued, with yelling and shouting. As both cars approached Foley Boulevard, the officer pulled onto the shoulder. The Rendezvous pulled up slightly behind the officer's car on the driver's side.

Meanwhile, the yelling match continued. Treptow reached past his wife in the passenger seat and fired more than one shot into the police officer's vehicle, Snell said. Despite the Treptow family's comments, investigators are not clear on whether the police officer pulled his gun. He did not fire his weapon, Snell said.

The officer got out of his vehicle and fell to the shoulder of the road. His car rolled backward across 99th Avenue and came to rest behind a pizza restaurant. The officer was treated at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and released.

Treptow and his wife drove to a Holiday gas station across U.S. 10 and called police. Both adult Treptows were taken into custody without incident. Rebecca Treptow later was released. Martin Treptow is being held in the Anoka County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault. His handgun was collected as evidence.

"It does not appear they knew that he was an officer," Snell said.

They didn't, Martin Treptow's family said. They say the officer never identified himself as a law enforcement official.

Treptow has a license to carry and conceal a gun, Snell said, and according to family he worked as a security guard for six years. He has no known criminal history in Minnesota, beyond a single traffic incident more than a decade ago, according to police and court records.

"We've got a renegade cop from Robbinsdale, and I'm pissed," said Martin J. Treptow, the suspect's father. "We want answers. We're getting runaround treatment."

The older Treptow said that, according to his daughter-in-law Rebecca, the officer was tailgating them closely. His son stopped because the car in front of him was pulling into a strip mall.

At some point, the officer pulled onto the shoulder, and Treptow honked, his father said. The officer stopped his car, "pulls a gun out and pointed it in my daughter-in-law's face," the suspect's father said.

"What was my son supposed to do?" Treptow asked. "People have a right to protect themselves and their family."

Nearby residents and drivers heard the shots and yelling.

Cory Alsaker and his roommate were in their apartment when they heard a gunshot. They went to the window and saw a man lying on the shoulder, both legs bleeding.

"It looked like he was shot across both kneecaps," Alsaker said.

Before placing him in the ambulance, paramedics went through the officer's pockets and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Alsaker realized then the injured man was a police officer.

Robbinsdale Police Chief Wayne Shellum said outside the hospital that his officer was doing well, the Associated Press reported.

"He's in good spirits, and he looked at me and said, 'Geez,' he says, 'I'm sorry, Chief.' And I went, 'Hey, it's not your fault, you're doing your job, you're doing what you're paid to do.' "

Snell said the investigation continues. He said the Robbinsdale officer was on duty at the time of the shooting, but investigators don't know if he was in Coon Rapids working on a case.

Snell said the entire episode likely could have been avoided if cooler heads had prevailed.

"It wasn't just the danger for the people involved, but for everyone," he said. "There were people everywhere."

Staff reporter John Brewer contributed to this story.

11:00 PM  

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