A 23-year-old man allegedly fired photographs at a state trooper after crashing his ex-girlfriend’s automobile when she tried to finish their relationship on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Minneapolis, per the Minnesota Bureau of Prison Apprehension’s Sept. 24 news release and WCCO News.
Minnesota State Patrol troopers had been dispatched to the crash web site at eastbound I-94 and Dowling Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday. Gunshots had been allegedly fired on the scene earlier than authorities arrived. State trooper Mark Vande Steeg responded to the incident and allegedly “got here below nearly speedy gunfire” by Eddie James Freeman III, 23, per the Minnesota Bureau of Prison Apprehension (BCA).
Vande Steeg and Freeman exchanged gunfire, and nobody was hit or injured, authorities mentioned. Physique cam footage captured BCA crime scene responders discovering a handgun the place Freeman was arrested and assessing bullet holes on the police automobile.
In accordance with a felony grievance obtained by Fox 9, Vande Steeg, who was recognized by the Minnesota Bureau of Prison Apprehension, approached the scene, turned on his squad lights and sirens, after which shined a highlight on the suspect, who matched Freeman’s description.
Allegedly, Freeman “raised his hand and pointed what gave the impression to be a gun within the officer’s course,” the grievance added, noting that Vande Steeg returned fireplace. Further regulation enforcement officers with the Minneapolis Police Division responded to the scene.
Then, extra officers surrounded Freeman. He tossed the gun earlier than he was arrested — police recovered the gun. He allegedly spit within the face of a Minneapolis police officer whereas being arrested, in response to the felony grievance, per WCCO Information.
Regulation enforcement then spoke with the car’s driver, who mentioned she was Freeman’s girlfriend. The pair had been driving on I-94 when she informed Freeman the “relationship was over.” Freeman allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and crashed the automobile. After the crash, he exited the car and the girl, whose identify has not been made public, mentioned she heard gunshots. Police say officers found a bullet gap within the driver’s facet door, however no accidents had been reported, in response to WCCO Information.
Two witnesses who had been about to supply assist fled the scene once they noticed somebody pointing a gun at them. They ran away and heard roughly six gunshots, per WCCO Information.
After the incident, I-94 shut down for over 12 hours so authorities might examine the incident earlier than reopening late Sunday morning, Sept. 22.
The BCA says it’s investigating Van Steeg’s “use of pressure,” and he was positioned on commonplace important incident go away. Freeman is being investigated by the Minnesota State Patrol.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Freeman was charged with first-degree assault in opposition to a police officer, 4 counts of second-degree assault with a harmful weapon, and fourth-degree assault, Fox 9 stories.
Freeman stays in custody at Hennepin County Jail. His bail has been set at $300,000 with situations. He appeared in courtroom on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 25, per WCCO Information.
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The Hennepin County Lawyer’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for extra data on Wednesday.