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Tuesday, April 07, 2009

St. Paul police shoot, kill armed man, 34, in alley; police dog also wounded by gunfire

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posted by Bob at Tuesday, April 07, 2009

5 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

He allegedly fired gun; police dog hurt

By Mara H. Gottfried
mgottfried@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 04/06/2009 11:57:48 PM CDT


St. Paul police shot and killed a 34-year-old man Monday after he reportedly fired shots in a Greater East Side alley. A police dog was shot in the head and wounded during the incident.

Officers were called at 6:12 p.m. about a man who had a handgun and was drinking in an alley behind the 1500 block of East Iowa Avenue, said Peter Panos, police spokesman. As officers responded, they got information at 6:14 p.m. that the man was firing the gun, Panos said.

Police arrived at 6:16 p.m., and shortly after "they were forced to shoot," Panos said. He said he didn't have information about what led three officers to shoot.

Whether the man shot the police dog or the animal was accidentally shot by an officer wasn't known Monday night, Panos said. The dog, Boomer, underwent surgery at the University of Minnesota's veterinary hospital and was in stable condition, Panos said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He didn't live in the neighborhood, but Panos said he had friends there.

Police later identified the man as Robert Jerome Jeske, of St. Paul.

A woman who lives on the block said she drove by and saw the man leaning against a garage before the shooting.

"He looked really out of place," said Lisa, who declined to give her last name. "I had never seen him before."

She said he seemed suspicious and she was going to call police, but then she saw a squad car arrive.

As she pulled in front of her house on Iowa Avenue, Lisa said she heard gunshots.

Her three young children were inside the house with another adult.
"It was really scary to think it was that close," she said.

Other people in the neighborhood reported hearing "a lot of shots." Neighbor John Wade said there could have been 10 to 15. Lisa said she wasn't really counting, but she thought there were around six.

The three officers who fired their guns are on paid administrative leave, which is standard after such a shooting.

The last time St. Paul police fatally shot someone was in September 2007. Donald Gartner, 34, had allegedly lunged at officers with a knife.

The last time a St. Paul police dog was shot and injured in the line of duty was October 2007. Rico was shot in the paw while chasing a suspect and was able to return to work.

Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262.

6:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TV reports that he left a suicide note on his my space or face book account.

He appears to have been successful.

This is a pretty quiet part of the neighborhood. Few if any police calls.

Chuck Repke

9:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The last time St. Paul police fatally shot someone was in September 2007. Donald Gartner, 34, had allegedly lunged at officers with a knife.
Rose Gartner "Donald's Mother" says her son was just standing with the knife when he was shoot.

7:10 PM  
Anonymous Bill Dahn said...

This must be a TABBO thing to speak about.
This guy wanted to die, and he was to chicken to do it his self.
These police officers have to live with the idea that they killed a man in the line of duty.
I really feel sorry for the police officers, we can never say their job is easy.

6:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I spoke to Rose Gartner "Donald Gartner's Mother" yesterday she said her son had a nail file in his hand, not a knife.
It was his birthday Friday April 10, can anyone imagine how she feels losing her son.

8:36 AM  

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