Minnesota BCA identifies officers and suspects in use of force in Polk County

(St. Paul, Minnesota) – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified three officers and the suspect involved in the May 16 use of force incident in Crookston, Minnesota.

The forensic pathologist at the University of North Dakota’s Department of Forensic Pathology has identified 35-year-old Andrew Scott Dale of Crookston as the man shot by authorities. Authorities say he died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The Minnesota BCA has identified three officers who used force. Crookston Police Officer Nick Fladland fired his service weapon. He has five years of police experience and is on critical incident leave. Officer Alex Rudnik deployed his Taser. He has 10 years of police experience. Polk County Deputy Matt Benge fired 40mm foam bullets. He has five years of police experience.

According to the preliminary investigation, officers encountered Dale on the street with an axe shortly before 1 a.m. on May 16. They made contact with him and he ran toward them with the axe in his hand. Rudnik and Benge used less lethal force, but it was ineffective. Fladland fired his service weapon, hitting Dale multiple times. Officers rendered life-saving aid, but Dale later died in hospital.

BCA crime scene personnel found a hatchet and bullet casings at the scene. Body-worn cameras captured portions of the incident. BCA agents are reviewing all available video as part of the ongoing investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.