A Minnesota man was taken into custody on a weapons charge after allegedly trying to draw a loaded gun on police officers who were moving in to apprehend him. Minneapolis Police Department officers were seeking the 27-year-old Winona resident in connection with an armed carjacking that occurred on July 9. He faces a single federal count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He made his first appearance before a U.S. District Court judge on July 14. The man is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition because he was once convicted of a felony in Hennepin County.
The chain of events that led to the arrest began when MPD officers who had been tasked with finding the man spotted him walking into a Minneapolis restaurant. When they entered the establishment to take the man into custody, the officers claim that he refused to comply and reached into his waistband. According to court papers, the man was subdued after a brief struggle, and a semiautomatic Ruger pistol was found in his waistband.
The officers involved were assigned to the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force. They were assisted during the operation by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a multi-agency initiative that assists local law enforcement in cases involving violent gun crimes. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
Prosecutors often take a firm stance when cases involve weapons crimes, and this is especially true when suspects are accused of attempting to draw guns on police officers. Experienced criminal defense attorneys may seek more lenient treatment by pointing out that this kind of behavior could be driven by panic and fear rather than an intent to wound or kill. Attorneys might also mention mitigating factors such as sincere regret and a willingness to accept responsibility.
