Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2000
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2000 Star Tribune
Contact:  425 Portland Ave., Minneapolis MN 55488
Fax: 612-673-4359
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Author: Lisa Donovan, Staff Writer

2 SHOT IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL DRUG STING

1 Dies, 1 Injured In Incident Involving Minneapolis Police

A suspected drug dealer was shot and killed Tuesday night in downtown St. 
Paul by Minneapolis police in an undercover deal that went sour, 
authorities said. A second man, also thought to be a drug dealer, also was 
shot by Minneapolis police. Minneapolis officers had notified St. Paul 
authorities minutes before the deal, a courtesy when officers are working 
in another jurisdiction. The undercover Minneapolis officers also wanted 
some ``backup,'' or assistance, said St. Paul Police Department spokesman 
Michael Jordan. St. Paul homicide investigators were investigating the 
shootings, and at least one member of the Minnesota Gang Strike Force was 
at the scene. The undercover deal began about 7 p.m., either inside 
Mickey's Diner or in the landmark restaurant's parking lot at 36 W. Seventh 
St., said Jordan. Details were sketchy, but the attempted drug buy moved 
about a block west of Mickey's, and that's when things became heated.

With the Minneapolis officers on foot and the alleged drug dealers inside 
their car, shots were fired, said witnesses and police.

The men then drove several blocks west on Seventh Street, past the Xcel 
Energy Center, before crossing over the center line, striking several 
vehicles -- both moving and parked.

The suspects' car came to rest against Free At Last Church of God, 200 W. 
Seventh St., just west of Kellogg Boulevard. The congregation was holding 
services Tuesday night. ``You could hear the car hit the wall,'' said 
Ernest Stephens, 49, of St. Paul. ``And I went running out there after 
someone came in here yelling, `Call 911! Call 911!' '' The Minneapolis 
police officers involved in the shooting arrived at the crash scene on 
foot, and several St. Paul police squads were right behind them. St. Paul's 
homicide investigators were sorting through the details of the case, 
interviewing the officers involved in the shooting as well as several 
officers who were listening via an open cellular telephone line the 
Minneapolis officers were using.

``For some reasons the narcotics buy didn't go as planned,'' Jordan said. 
``Some shots were fired; I don't know who initiated it, I don't know how 
many shots were fired, but one man was dead at the scene.'' Marcus Coleman, 
11, who was attending the services at the church, said, ``I was outside, I 
heard some shots, and the police, they were pointing guns at two people 
inside the car.'' Another member of the congregation said he ran outside to 
see whether he could help.

``I walked out and heard a man say, `Help me, help me, the door is stuck,' 
'' said Ernest Stephens, 49, of St. Paul, referring to the vehicle the 
suspects were driving. ``I went to the passenger side door and tried to 
open it. When I looked in, I saw the driver laying back, blood covering his 
face.'' As Stephens tried to open the car door, the passenger -- blood also 
covering his face -- reached for a shotgun between the front seats. ``All 
of a sudden some cop comes up to me and says, puts a gun on me and starts 
(saying), `Move away, move away, you need to get out of here.' '' 
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