A drug deal preceded a 24-year-old violent felon shooting another man in the leg outside an East Bethel convenience store and then fleeing police at speeds of 120 miles per hour or more on a busy freeway until he crashed and was shot by law enforcement, according to charges.

Castle R. Ahlbeck, of Brooklyn Park, was charged Monday in Anoka County District Court with first- and second-degree assault, fleeing police and illegal weapons possession in connection with the rolling midday mayhem on Thursday that spanned roughly 20 miles.

The Coon Rapids police officer who shot and wounded Ahlbeck was identified as Bryan Platz, a 15-year veteran of the department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Tuesday. He was placed on standard administrative leave, the BCA said.

The man who was shot in the leg told investigators that Ahlbeck shot him outside Cooper's Corner gas station in the 23700 block of Hwy. 65, just after a drug deal. A search of Ahlbeck's vehicle after it crashed turned up suspected methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint.

Ahlbeck was convicted of second-degree assault in September 2013 and is barred from possessing a firearm.

Ahlbeck remains jailed in lieu of $700,000 bail ahead of a Dec. 19 court appearance. A telephone message was left Tuesday with his attorney seeking a response to the allegations.

Paul Walsh