Suspect Charged with Shooting at Brooklyn Park Police, Officers ID’d
Hennepin County prosecutors have charged a suspect with shooting at police outside the Brooklyn Park Walmart. The incident happened just before noon Monday.
James Klein, 32, of Chaska, is charged with two counts of felony assault for use of deadly force against a peace offer. Klein is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Police returned fire striking the suspect. Klein was treated at North Memorial Health Hospital for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
According to the criminal complaint, Brooklyn Park police initially responded to a report of a shoplifting call. Officers also had information that the suspect was purchasing a large amount of ammunition and was wearing a holster.
A Brooklyn Park police officer encountered the suspect in the Walmart parking lot when the suspect began to run away. The officer repeatedly told Klein to stop, the complaint said. Klein continue to run and the officer used a Taser, which had minimal effect. That’s when the suspect began firing shots at police. Officers returned fire striking Klein. No officers were injured.
Officers on Standard Administrative Leave
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is in charge of the investigation, identified two officers who discharged their weapons during the incident. Both are on standard administrative leave. They are:
- Officer Charles Cudd, who has been with the Brooklyn Park Police Department for 14 years. Officer Cudd deployed his Taser and discharged his firearm during the incident.
- Officer Dane Lazenberry, who has been in law enforcement for five years including one year with the Brooklyn Park Police Department. Officer Lazenberry discharged his firearms during the incident.
BCA investigators recovered a handgun from near the spot where Klein fell to the ground. During a search of the injured suspect, officers found a “bandolero” style belt around Klein’s midsection that was holding numerous rounds of additional ammunition, the complaint said.
Court records show Klein has an extensive criminal history, including drugs, fleeing police in a previous incident, and counterfeiting of currency.
