Pubdate: Sun, 26 Nov 2000
Source: Duluth News-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2000 Duluth News-Tribune
Contact:  424 W. First St., Duluth, MN 55802
Website: http://www.duluthnews.com/
Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?duluth
Author: Associated Press

NO DRUGS IN CAR POLICE FIRED AT

ST. PAUL -- No narcotics or weapons were found in a thorough search of
a car driven by an alleged drug dealer who was shot and killed by
Minneapolis police officers, St. Paul police said.

James C. Fye and Michael W. Ivory, both of St. Paul, allegedly were
trying to sell about a half-pound of marijuana to undercover
Minneapolis officers Tuesday night in downtown St. Paul when the
shooting happened.

Fye, 29, died after being shot several times. Ivory, 39, was wounded
in his upper body. He was recovering at Regions Hospital.

Ivory, who like Fye has a long criminal record, arranged the deal by
calling an undercover Minneapolis officer Tuesday to set up the
exchange, which he demanded take place in a public St. Paul location,
authorities said.

Minneapolis investigators, who had been working on arresting the two
men for more than a month, met the suspects near Mickey's Diner about
6:30. According to authorities, when the two suspects told police they
had the marijuana but wanted to go elsewhere to make the exchange,
about a dozen Minneapolis officers converged to make the arrests.

According to Minneapolis police, Fye hit one officer with the car and
dragged another for a short distance while trying to escape.
Minneapolis police officials say the officers fired because the
suspects used their car as a weapon and the officers feared for their
lives. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake