Minneapolis robbery suspect shot by officer working undercover charged with 3 felonies

Sammie Brown of Minneapolis now is charged with three felonies.

Last update: August 28, 2008 - 11:31 PM

A 21-year-old man has been charged with three felonies after he allegedly tried to rob a plainclothes Minneapolis police officer, who in turn shot the suspect.

Sammie Brown, of Minneapolis, was charged Thursday with first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, soliciting a juvenile to commit a crime and prohibited possession of a firearm. Brown remains hospitalized after being shot twice in the stomach by Minneapolis police officer David Garman on Tuesday night, police said.

According to the complaint, officers were conducting a sting operation near the 1800 block of 15th Avenue S. after several robberies of food-delivery drivers in the past few weeks. The drivers were responding to food orders placed from the same telephone number, which was later identified as the number connected to Brown's address, the complaint said.

About 9 p.m. Tuesday, an order was called in to a local business from the number connected to the previous robberies. Officer Garman, posing as a delivery driver, made the delivery for the business and was confronted by three male suspects.

The complaint said that Brown held a silver handgun to Garman's head and issued a profanity-laced demand for money. Garman then shot Brown twice in the stomach.

Two juvenile suspects, 13-year-old and 15-year-old boys, fled but were later caught. Garman and two other officers, who were acting as backup, were put on paid administrative leave, which is standard department procedure. Brown previously was convicted of felony terroristic threats in July 2007 in Hennepin County.

LORA PABST