St. Cloud police were able to defuse a tense situation just after midnight Monday morning after an officer was shot in the hand by an 18-year-old black man involved in a scuffle south of the city’s downtown.
Officers did not return fire.
In the end, the suspect and a 14-year veteran of the police department were both hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
But the night could have turned very ugly when misinformation about the incident spread on social media, and a crowd of about 100 people headed toward the St. Cloud police station.
“We had information that when they arrived here, their intent was to damage property, and take over our police station,” said St. Cloud police chief Blair Anderson. “That didn’t happen.”
Instead of a confrontation and occupation, police used tear gas and chemical irritants to disperse the crowd.
“This place could have been on fire, with a lie,” said Anderson during a press briefing at the police station that was attended by St. Cloud community leaders.
Four people were arrested for property damage, some of which happened when the crowd began throwing rocks at the police station several hours after the incident.
Two guns were recovered at the scene of the fight and shooting.
The Minnesota BCA is investigating.
St Cloud police vehicles are equipped with dash cameras, but officers on the city force are not equipped with body cams.
Anderson credits his agency’s close ties within the community, and its training, for keeping things under control ... starting with the officer’s decision not to return gunfire.
“What I’m hearing across the nation from people is, what constitutes the use of deadly force,” said Anderson. “This did. And our officer showed great restraint, great professionalism, because that’s how we do what we do here in St. Cloud.”
The suspect is identified as Sumaree Dashon Bosse of St. Cloud.
He faces multiple charges.
The officer who was hurt was not named and underwent surgery for the injuries Monday morning
