CROOKSTON, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – For the second time in six weeks, a Crookston police officer has fatally shot a man. On Sunday night, June 30, officers responded to a fight at the Care and Share homeless shelter around 11:45 p.m. Shortly after, distress calls and gunshots were reported from the second floor.
Chief Darin Selzler has not confirmed if the deceased man had a weapon. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, attempts to subdue the man with a Taser, mace, and pepper ball gun failed.
Communities United Against Police Brutality co-founder Michelle Gross expressed concern, stating, “The worst offense seems to be non-compliance with orders, which doesn’t justify deadly force.”
Mayor Dale Stainbrook defended the police, emphasizing their training and dedication. Gross criticized Polk County for not implementing Travis’ Law, which mandates diverting mental health crisis calls to specialized teams.
This incident marks the third deadly police shooting in Polk County this year, with ongoing investigations by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.