Prosecutors: Deputy justified in fatally hitting armed man in Mounds View

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced charges won’t be filed against a Ramsey County deputy who used deadly force last year.

Prosecutors said Sgt. Donald Rindal, a 22-year-old law enforcement veteran, was justified in using deadly force against an armed man who authorities said was firing shots at officers.

The suspect, 48-year-old Troy Allen Engstrom, died after Rindal used his vehicle to hit him.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated the incident and turned its findings over to the attorney’s office on Jan. 25.

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According to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 2200 block of Mounds View Boulevard at 10:40 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2021, to help Mounds View police with a felony domestic assault case at AmericInn. Officers learned the suspect’s description and, after finding him a short time later, the man fired shots at their squads. That’s when Rindal used his squad to hit the suspect, later identified as Engstrom.

Engstrom was taken to a hospital but later died.

The attorney’s office says the initial report to law enforcement was made after Engstrom allegedly made suicidal and threatening statements, including, “I’m gonna die today.” He also fired a gunshot in the hotel but not at anyone.

A Mounds View police officer who responded to the incident said — just before Rindal hit Engstrom with his squad — Engstrom had fired directly at him.

The attorney’s office also included a portion of Rindal’s statement to law enforcement, in which he said he believes his actions “were absolutely necessary” and within state law because he feared for his own life and the lives of the other officers at the scene.

“Had I not taken immediate action, I believe the suspect would have continued to approach the Mounds View Police Officer, and would have shot him at close range and likely killed him,” Rindal’s statement added.

“The use of deadly force by a peace officer is justified to protect the officer or another person from death or great bodily harm. It is my conclusion that given the facts and circumstances of this incident, it was objectively reasonable for Sergeant Rindal to believe Mr. Engstrom posed a deadly threat to him, to Officer Erickson and to members of the public and the time he struck Mr. Engstrom with his squad,” Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena said in a statement announcing the charging decision. “Accordingly, Sergeant Rindal was legally justified in using deadly force in this instance and there is no basis to issue criminal charges against him.”