Sheriff’s office: Passing car fires shots at Ramsey County deputies during traffic stop, suspect in custody

Shots were fired at Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies by a passing vehicle during a traffic stop on Highway 36 west of Interstate 35E early Thursday morning.

The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday as two deputies were conducting a traffic stop, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies conducted a traffic stop on westbound Highway 36. While conducting the stop, occupants of a vehicle traveling eastbound fired multiple shots at the deputies. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

The deputies immediately released the driver in the traffic stop for their safety. Deputies broadcast the suspect vehicle description and the direction of travel on their radio and then attempted to locate the vehicle but were unsuccessful. They then returned to the scene of the shooting and recovered multiple shell casings, authorities said.

While still at the scene, deputies learned that a Maplewood police officer observed a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. The vehicle again fled but was located a short time later.

A suspect was located nearby and taken into custody, and a gun was also recovered.

No citizens or deputies were injured in the shooting.

The case remains under investigation.