BCA Releases New Details on Use-of-Force Incident Involving State Trooper That Shut Down I-94

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is releasing more information about a use of force incident involving a state trooper on September 21st that caused a portion of Interstate 94 to be shut down.

According to the BCA’s preliminary findings, the trooper was responding to a crash on I-94 near Dowling Avenue in north Minneapolis shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Saturday when the suspect, 23-year-old Eddie James Freeman III, opened fire on the officer. The trooper returned fire. Freeman was arrested a short time later and booked into the Hennepin County jail. Neither Freeman nor the trooper were hurt.

Freeman is facing six felony charges stemming from both the use-of-force incident and a separate shooting that happened on I-94 shortly before the trooper arrived at the scene.

Bodycam and squad car dashcam captured portions of the incident. BCA crime scene investigators also recovered a handgun from the location where Freeman was arrested and noted damage to the patrol car consistent with being hit by gunfire.

The trooper is on standard administrative leave.

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating his actions, while the BCA is examining the trooper’s use of force.

The BCA’s investigation is ongoing. Once completed, the findings will be submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review without any recommendations for charges.

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