ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the Minnesota State Patrol trooper who discharged his firearm during a use-of-force incident on Sept. 21 on interstate 94 near Dowling Avenue North in Minneapolis. Trooper Mark Vande Steeg has been in law enforcement for just over one year. He is on standard critical incident leave.

The subject who fired shots during the incident has also been identified. Eddie James Freeman III, 23, of Minneapolis, is in the Hennepin County Jail after being charged earlier today in Hennepin County District Court with six felony charges related to both the use-of-force incident and a shooting incident that occurred on I-94 just prior to the trooper’s arrival on scene.

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating Freeman’s actions. The BCA is investigating the use-of-force by Trooper Vande Steeg.

According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, as Trooper Vande Steeg responded to a crash on I-94 shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday he came under almost immediate gunfire by Freeman. At one point Trooper Vande Steeg returned fire. No one was struck by gunfire or injured. Freeman was taken into custody a short time later.

Body camera and squad camera video captured portions of the incident. BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun from the location where Freeman was taken into custody and observed bullet damage to the squad vehicle.

The BCA investigation of the use-of-force incident is ongoing. When its investigation is complete the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation of charges to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review.

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CONTACT:

Jill Oliveira  651-793-2726
jill.oliveira@state.mn.us​