Police: Officer fires at speeding car in Minneapolis

The confrontation took place in the East Phillips neighborhood, where a driver aimed a vehicle at an officer, police say.

February 25, 2017 at 2:14PM
Minneapolis police spokesman Corey Schmidt at City Hall on Friday.
A car that had been stopped for speeding Friday night in Minneapolis accelerated at an officer who fired at the driver, who was not hit, police spokesman Corey Schmidt said. (Vince Tuss — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

No one was hurt Friday night when a Minneapolis police officer fired shots at a vehicle that police say sped toward them during a traffic stop in the East Phillips neighborhood.

Police pulled over a car that had been speeding near the intersection of EM Stately Street and Ogema Place at about 7:30 p.m., police spokesman Corey Schmidt said. The vehicle came to a stop facing their squad car.

Two officers got out of the squad car and gave instructions to the driver, Schmidt said. The driver then sped directly toward one of the officers.

One officer fired at the vehicle, though Schmidt did not know how many rounds were fired. The driver fled the area in the vehicle and was found and arrested a few blocks away.

Neither the officers nor the driver were injured. The 26-year-old driver is expected to be charged with felony assault, Schmidt said.

Both officers involved were placed on leave, standard administrative practice. The police homicide unit is investigating the incident.

The Minneapolis Police Department's Gang Interdiction Unit had been in the area Friday following reports of shootings and robberies, Schmidt said.

Miguel Otárola • 612-673-4753

about the writer

about the writer

Miguel Otárola

Reporter

Miguel Otárola is a reporter covering Minneapolis City Hall for the Star Tribune. He previously covered Minneapolis' western suburbs and breaking news. He also writes about immigration and music on occasion.

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