Off-duty officer accidentally fires through hotel room wall

Updated: August 4, 2006 - 1:42 PM

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- No one was injured when an off-duty Woodbury police officer's gun fired through a wall at a St. Cloud hotel into another guest's room as the officer practiced holster and trigger pulls, authorities said. The gun apparently was fired accidentally Wednesday night at Country Inn & Suites, St. Cloud Police Capt. Sue Stawarski said.

Woodbury Police Chief William Hering refused to release the name, rank or years of service of the officer on the advice of the city's attorney. "Right now we're treating that information as private," Hering said Thursday. St. Cloud police said the officer who fired the gun is a 45-year-old Woodbury resident but declined to give his name. He was not arrested. Stawarski said the details were being forwarded to the city attorney for a review of possible charges.

The officer was with a group of other Woodbury officers who were in St. Cloud for training, she said. The officer told police he thought the gun was empty as he practiced holster and trigger pulls, but there was one bullet in the magazine. The officer was alone in his room when the shot was fired. Stawarski said the bullet went through a wall and into the next room, where a woman was staying. A Breathalyzer test showed the officer had no alcohol in his system, Stawarski said. Hering said the Woodbury Police Department would conduct an internal investigation when St. Cloud police have completed their investigation. "We're happy that no one was injured, but we're waiting for the process to run its course," he said.