St. Paul Pioneer Press
ANOKA, Minn. -- A Lino Lakes police officer was justified in fatally shooting a motorist in May, an Anoka County grand jury found.
The officer, nine-year veteran Sgt. William Owens, was dragged by a vehicle driven by Sam Matthew Holmes when Holmes tried to drive away during a traffic stop on Interstate 694 in Fridley May 8.
Owens was trying to arrest Holmes, 31, of New Brighton on outstanding warrants and suspicion of drunken driving.
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Holmes resisted, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Owens used a Taser, but Holmes got back in the vehicle and tried to drive away, dragging the officer along.
Owens shot him. The vehicle went off the road, through a fence and came to a stop in a parking lot. Holmes died at the scene.
The grand jury, convened this week, reviewed the evidence and heard testimony from 15 witnesses, according to Anoka County prosecutors. It found Owens’ use of deadly force was lawful.
