The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says it is investigating a use-of-force incident in Woodbury that prompted a response from a SWAT team on Monday morning.
Woodbury police say officers and Washington County SWAT team members learned that a vehicle with stolen license plates was in the Target parking lot off of Valley Creek Road. When they arrived, nobody was in the vehicle but as they investigated, police say the suspect arrived and started fighting with officers who tried to arrest him.
At one point, officers saw that the man had a handgun and backed away, and the suspect then barricaded himself in the vehicle, according to police.
A shelter-in-place for the Valley Creek Plaza area was implemented but has since been lifted.
SWAT members tried to negotiate with the man before less-lethal options were deployed. However, the man still refused to comply.
At around 10:30 a.m., police say he got out and pointed the gun in the direction of officers, who then returned fire, striking the man. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of his wounds but his condition wasn’t immediately clear.
According to police, one Woodbury police officer and one Washington County deputy have been placed on standard administrative leave, which is typical for officers who fire their weapons.
The department added that the BCA will review all footage from body-worn cameras and dash cameras during its investigation of the use-of-force incident. Woodbury police are still handling the investigation into the original crime that the man was wanted for.
Spencer Trinh told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that she was shopping and about to leave Target when officials closed it down.
Trinh said she was told that law enforcement officials found a wanted felon and shots were fired at some point. Trinh added that she saw a man being taken away from the scene in an ambulance.