Report: Investigation of Officer-Involved Shooting at Woodbury’s Red Roof Inn Complete
To avoid a conflict of interest, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office will review the case, according to a Pioneer Press report.
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A state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation into the shooting death of a man by three Woodbury police officers is complete, according to a Pioneer Press story.
In late August, police shot and killed and Mark Eric Henderson, of St. Paul, during a hostage standoff at the Red Roof Inn. He was unarmed at the time, but apparently ran from the room a short time after a weapon was pointed at officers. A shot was fired as Henderson was fleeing the second-floor room, and police opened fire.
Demetrius Santrell Ballinger, of Stillwater, is accused of firing the shot at Henderson, and has been charged with 27 felonies, including attempted murder and rape.
In an effort to avoid a conflict of interest, BCA officials have given their findings to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, according to the Pioneer Press story.
The three Woodbury Police Department officers who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave. They are officer Anthony Ofstead, an 11-year veteran with the department; officer Stacey Krech, who’s been with the department for five years and officer Natalie Martin, who’s been with the PD for two years.
Previous coverage
- Man Killed in Shootout with Woodbury Police During Hostage Standoff at Red Roof Inn
- Woodbury Red Roof Inn Shooting Detailed, Suspect, Deceased Identified
- Suspect in Woodbury Red Roof Inn Hostage Case Faces Attempted Murder, Rape Charges
Reaction
The incident also sparked community outcry over criminal happenings at the Red Roof Inn:
- Shut Down Woodbury’s Red Roof Inn? It’s Not That Simple
- Red Roof Inn Research: 10 Times the Police Calls as Other Woodbury Hotels
- Woodbury Officials to Work with Red Roof Inn Management
- Woodbury Resident on Red Roof Inn: ‘Clean it Up or Close it Down’
- Petition for Red Roof Inn (blog post)
- Woodbury Residents Speak Out About Red Roof Inn: Raw Video
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Red Roof Inn
1806 Wooddale Dr, Woodbury, MN -
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Public Safety Department
2100 Radio Dr, Woodbury, MN -
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Rhonda Fitzgerald
8:36 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
It is unfortunate that this happened at all, even more so that the officers involved are facing legal issues. At the same time I am glad that they are being held responsible for their actions. It could have been any one of the hostages - or all of the - running to escape a man shooting at them. One of the four girls could also have been injured or killed. Mark was shot 12 times; only one bullet was from Demetrius. Plus Mark died alone several hours later as his family was not contacted. That is why I felt compelled to start the fundraiser, which is not closed with only 10% of our goal reached.