Officer involved in shooting returns to work

One of two Superior police officers involved in a fatal shootout has returned to work.

Officer Todd Carlson was back on duty Monday, according to Superior Police Chief Charles LaGesse. The other officer who fired shots during the incident, Sgt. William Lear, also is expected to return to duty after attending counseling sessions mandated by department policy.

Luke Daniel Anderson, 32, of Duluth died following the shootout, which took place Feb. 17. Anderson allegedly stole a woman’s keys while brandishing a revolver in the parking lot of the Superior Walgreens. He was unable to start her car and left in the vehicle he had arrived in, which had been left running. He led Superior police on a high-speed chase, then abandoned his vehicle and ran through a grassy field between North 12th and Winter streets east of Birch Avenue. Officers saw he was carrying a large revolver. He ignored repeated orders to drop the weapon. As he approached the mobile home park, he turned toward officers, raising his revolver.

Officers fired multiple rounds at the man. He fell to the ground but held onto the revolver. He placed the gun under his own chin and fired it. Officers called for an ambulance and approached the man, but he began to rise and again pointed the gun at officers. They fired more shots, and the man dropped to the ground.

LaGesse said the preliminary findings of the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation indicted the use of deadly force by both officers was reasonable and lawful. The staggered return of Carlson and Lear was due to scheduling problems for the mandatory counseling sessions, the chief said.

Jay Smith, supervisor of the regional DCI office, did not release any new information on the case as of press time.

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