Officials Express Outrage as Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Faces Murder Charges for Fatal Shooting of Driver

(KNSI) — Some entities are expressing their outrage over murder charges brought against a Minnesota State Patrol trooper who shot and killed a driver last summer.

Trooper Ryan Londregan was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday. July 31st, Londegran and two other troopers were trying to get 33-year-old Ricky Cobb II out of his car to place him under arrest after learning Ramsey County wanted him arrested for a domestic abuse protection order violation. Cobb, of St. Cloud, was accused of driving off and dragging Londegran and another trooper with him before he was shot.

The Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association released a statement following the charging decision saying it is “dedicated to ensuring the rights and well-being of Minnesota State Troopers,” and “stands resolutely in defense of the troopers who tragically found themselves in a situation that necessitated the use of deadly force to halt a suspect attempting to flee in a vehicle while troopers were present inside.”

The association said the troopers were bound by their legal duty to apprehend the driver and found themselves “confronted with a rapidly evolving and potentially life-threatening scenario.”

The statement says prosecutors need to understand the significance of the reasonableness standard, which “requires assessment from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, at the time without the benefit of hindsight. In moments of crisis and danger, such as the one faced by the troopers, law enforcement officers are compelled to make instantaneous decisions within circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly changing. Their judgment about the necessary level of force must be evaluated within this context.”

The MSPTA added it acknowledges the “heartbreaking nature of the incident and extends its support to all those affected by this unfortunate tragedy.”

“While we steadfastly support our troopers,” it says, “we also emphasize the critical principles of accountability and transparency in law enforcement. Accountability ensures that actions taken by law enforcement are subject to review and scrutiny, and transparency fosters trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.”

The MSPTA added it will “vigorously defend our troopers unjustly charged as a result of troopers fulfilling their legal responsibilities.”

The Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who brought the charges against Londregan, “has made politics and ideology her source material, not the law. The law is well-established and clear: law enforcement may use reasonable force if they are confronted with death or great bodily harm. The State Trooper made a critical and necessary decision to use reasonable force during a dangerous and dynamic situation. Law enforcement officers die in similar situations.”

Londregan’s attorney, Chris Madel, called his client “a hero,” saying he was trying to protect himself and a fellow trooper. Madel filed papers seeking to have the case dismissed or at least to have Moriarty removed from the case.

Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said, “We unwaveringly support these committed individuals as they put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe. MPPOA will vigorously defend our trooper who is unjustly charged as a result of acting in accordance with his legal responsibilities. The State Troopers used their training and acted accordingly to arrest the driver and address the imminent threat to both law enforcement personnel and the public at large as the driver unlawfully and dangerously attempted to escape in his vehicle. The State Trooper’s actions were driven by his lawful duty.”

Moriarty said Londregan ignored his training, and the charges are appropriate “based on the thorough investigation conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and attorneys in our office.”

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R – Cold Spring) agreed with the MPPOA, saying, “Time and again, Mary Moriarty has sided with criminals over law enforcement, and this might be the most outrageous example yet. We have a violent crime epidemic, but Mary Moriarty is clearly more concerned with unjustly going after law enforcement than locking up criminals. These brave men and women risk their lives to protect our communities-we cannot tolerate a system where political ideology and personal contempt for law enforcement is put above the letter of the law.”

State Patrol Col. Matt Langer called the incident tragic and a “sad situation for everyone involved.”

Londregan will remain on paid leave while an internal investigation is conducted, which Col. Langer said is already underway.

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