BCA releases new details on use of force incident involving state trooper who closed I-94

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is releasing additional information regarding a use of force incident involving a state trooper on September 21 that resulted in the closure of a section of Interstate 94.

According to the BCA's preliminary findings, the officer was traveling on I-94 near Dowling Avenue in north Minneapolis shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday when the suspect, 23-year-old Eddie James Freeman III, opened fire on the officer. The officer returned fire. Freeman was arrested a short time later and taken to the Hennepin County Jail. Neither Freeman nor the officer were injured.

Freeman is charged with six felony counts related to both the use-of-force incident and a separate shooting that occurred on I-94 shortly before the trooper arrived on the scene.

Portions of the incident were captured by a body camera and a dash camera on the patrol car. BCA crime scene investigators also recovered a handgun from the location where Freeman was arrested and noted damage to the patrol car consistent with gunfire.

The police officer is on normal administrative leave.

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating his actions while the BCA is reviewing the officer's use of force.

The BCA's investigation is ongoing and, once completed, the findings will be submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for review without recommending charges.

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