North Branch man with sword who was shot by police identified

A man who was shot by officers after coming at them with a sword Friday in North Branch has been identified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Erik Hammer, 31, is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds and is expected to survive, officials said.

According to the BCA, officers from North Branch Police Department and deputies from the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suicidal man on Oak Ridge Court around 10 p.m. Friday.

When they arrived, officers found Hammer in a driveway, armed with a sword, officials said.

Officers ordered Hammer to drop the sword several times, but he refused and began walking down the driveway towards officers, the BCA said. Officers then shot Hammer with both bullets and less-lethal rounds.

According to the BCA, officers performed life-saving measures until an ambulance arrived.

The law enforcement officers involved in the shooting are:

• North Branch Police Officer Tyler Lawson, who has more than four years of law enforcement experience, fired his patrol rifle.
• North Branch Police Officer Kyle Lund, who has over three years of law enforcement experience, fired his patrol rifle.
• Chisago County Sgt. James Mott, a 15-year law enforcement veteran, fired less-lethal rounds.

Lawson, Lund and Mott have all been placed on standard administrative leave, according to the BCA.

Crime scene personnel from the BCA found the sword at the scene, and BCA agents are also reviewing body-camera footage from officers that were present, officials said.

The North Branch Police Department asked the BCA to investigate the shooting, and due to a conflict of interest, the Chisago County Attorney’s Office referred the use-of-force case to the Isanti County Attorney’s Office, the BCA said. The BCA will present its findings to the Isanti County Attorney’s Office once the investigation is complete.

---

Here is a list of suicide prevention and mental health resources:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988
• Crisis Text Line – Text MN to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
• Minnesota Department of Human Service’s adult mental health resources
  • DHS map and list of statewide adult mental health crisis response phone numbers
  • DHS map and list of statewide children’s mental health crisis response phone numbers
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Minnesota
• Veterans Crisis Line at 988, Option 1 or by texting 838255
• Minnesota Farm and Rural Mental Health Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FarmStress” to 898211

If you believe someone is at risk of suicide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests you:

• Ask questions about whether the individual is having suicidal thoughts.
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Seek help from a medical or mental health professional. If it is an emergency situation, take the person to a hospital.
• Remove any objects from a person’s home that could be potentially used in a suicide.
• Do not leave the person alone, if possible, until help is available.