Dashcam video captures gunshots fired in direction of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Deputies
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5 EYEWITNESS NEWS obtained a dashcam video that captures the moment when someone fired multiple gunshots in the direction of two Ramsey County Sheriff’s Deputies conducting a traffic stop along Highway 36 early last Thursday morning.
The deputies had stopped an erratic driver in the westbound lanes of Highway 36, just before the Rice Street exit. Moments later, the video shows a car traveling in the opposite direction, Eastbound Highway 36, when it opens fire on the deputies.
The deputies, and other local law enforcement agencies, chased the suspect’s vehicle at high speeds before a Maplewood Police officer found the suspect’s car and helped secure his arrest.
Ramsey County Undersheriff, Mike Martin, told KSTP the suspect has a lengthy criminal history and had a weapon on him when he was arrested.
"He is a convicted felon, so having a weapon would not be legal," said Martin. "He could face multiple charges in this case, but we are also still looking at the possibility of multiple suspects."
Martin said there is no doubt in the mind of investigators that the suspect, or suspects, were firing in the direction of the deputies and targeting them.
"I don’t see how there could be another explanation," said Martin. "It would be highly unusual to fire in the direction of the deputies if the suspect was targeting someone else."
On June 10, multiple gunshots were fired in the direction of several St. Paul Police officers, striking a squad car near Maryland Avenue and Duluth Street and two suspects were arrested and charged after a gun was recovered from their car.
"There is definitely a different attitude happening right now toward law enforcement," said Martin. "There is a belief on the street that, you know, that they can get away with stuff that previously they had not."
No deputies were injured in the incident and Ramsey County said it let the driver of the car in the video go for his personal safety since the suspect had not yet been apprehended at the time.