COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that followed a traffic stop in Coon Rapids early Thursday morning.
The BCA identified three officers who were involved in the incident. Officer Alex Hattstrom discharged his firearm, and has been with the Coon Rapids Police Department for three years. Officer Geoff Neumann discharged his taser, and has been in law enforcement for five years, including the last two years with the Coon Rapids Police Department. Deputy Christopher Vitek, Jr., discharged his firearm, and has been with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office for two years.
The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who died during the incident as John Duane Fairbanks, 40, of Cass Lake.
At an 8 a.m. new conference on Thursday, Police Chief Brad Wise said the incident began just after 1:30 a.m. when a Coon Rapids Police officer conducted a traffic stop on Foley Boulevard at 98th Lane NW. During the course of that stop, a male suspect got out of the vehicle and a physical confrontation ensued. The suspect eventually fled on foot and fired shots at the Coon Rapids police officer who was pursuing him.
Officers from multiple local departments arrived on scene to set up a perimeter and search for the armed suspect. Approximately 30 minutes later, a police K-9 and his handler located the suspect hiding in the back yard of a residence and confronted him. Officers decided he posed a lethal threat threat to them and opened fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
Wise emphasized that a handgun was recovered from the scene.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said that dash cameras, body cameras and a police drone were used at the time of the incident.
This investigation is still ongoing. The deceased man will be identified after an autopsy.