Hennepin County Attorney Facing Calls to Resign After Attempt to Dismiss Use of Force Expert

(KNSI) – Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is facing calls to resign after she was accused of ignoring a use of force expert hired by her office in the prosecution of Trooper Ryan Londregan.

Jeffrey Noble says he reviewed the evidence and believes Londregan acted lawfully when he shot and killed Ricky Cobb II. Cobb II is a native of St. Cloud, but the shooting occurred on 94 near Minneapolis on July 31st, 2023.

Noble made the judgment in October, months before Moriarty filed murder charges against the officer. He accused the prosecutor’s office of trying to pressure him into reconsidering.

State representatives held a press conference on Monday afternoon demanding that she leave the post after the explosive court filings were made earlier in the day.

A joint statement from the state’s GOP representatives says, “Mary Moriarty has coddled criminals and engaged in what can only be described as selective and politically-motivated prosecution of law enforcement. This latest revelation is shocking and shows the extent of Moriarty’s desperation to prosecute and villainize a heroic State Patrol Trooper who acted in a dangerous situation to save the life of his partner. Ignoring and even attempting to persuade a use-of-force expert hired by her office to change his expert opinion to fit her predetermined narrative is a disturbing abuse of power and calls her integrity and the integrity of her office into question. Mary Moriarty cannot be trusted to fairly carry out her duties as Hennepin County Attorney, and must resign.”

Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association General Counsel Imran Ali was even more forceful. “As a former prosecutor, what we learned today is simply appalling – the Hennepin County Attorney is trying to disregard and hide the true and honest opinion of an expert who said the officer’s actions were justified. This raises questions about the impartiality and objectivity of the prosecution of this case. It is important for prosecutors to consider all available evidence and expert opinions before deciding to charge someone, especially in cases involving the use of force by law enforcement officers.

“These new developments make it clear that the Hennepin County Attorney was going to charge a police officer with a crime, and no one, even the expert secured by her, was going to get in the way.”

Londregan is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree manslaughter in the case.

According to the investigation, around 1:50 a.m. on July 31st, a trooper saw a car drive past him on Interstate 94 without rear lights. After the car pulled over, the trooper found out the driver, Cobb II, was wanted on probable cause for a felony order-for-protection violation in Ramsey County. At that time, two more officers pulled up to assist.

Dashboard and body-worn camera footage released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety show the three troopers approaching Cobb II’s car and repeatedly requesting him to step out. Two troopers then opened the door and attempted to physically remove him after he became uncooperative. At that time, the video appears to show Cobb II putting the car in gear and driving away while the officers were partially inside, dragging them along the freeway. Londregan fired his handgun, hitting Cobb II. Cobb drove away, knocking the two troopers to the ground.

The three officers returned to their vehicles and followed Cobb II about a quarter-mile down the interstate. When they caught up to him, Cobb II’s vehicle was slowing to a stop against the highway divider. The troopers are seen on video immediately providing first aid, but he died at the scene.

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