Plainclothes Minneapolis officer shoots suspect in attempted robbery

The suspect was injured and two juveniles were arrested Tuesday during a sting operation in south Minneapolis.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: August 28, 2008 - 12:21 AM

A Minneapolis police officer posing as a food delivery man knew he might be robbed Tuesday night when he approached a south Minneapolis residence. But when a suspect pointed a gun at the officer, all bets were off.

Officer David Garman shot and wounded the suspect, 21-year-old Sammy Brown, police said. Brown was hospitalized and two juvenile males, ages 13 and 15, were arrested, police said.

Garman and two other officers were put on paid administrative leave after the shooting, which is standard procedure in such cases.

"This is not the outcome we preferred," said Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Bill Palmer. "That officer definitely put himself in harm's way for the city last night."

The south Minneapolis neighborhood where the shooting took place has been plagued by armed robberies -- at least four in the past few weeks -- and officers had set up a sting operation to try to catch the criminals, Palmer said.

On Tuesday night, the officers received information that another robbery might take place near the 1800 block of 15th Avenue S., so officer Garman made a food delivery to the area around 9:20 p.m. The three suspects tried to rob him at gunpoint, and Garman fired two shots, striking Brown in the torso, Palmer said.

Two other officers, Sgt. Daniel McShane and an unidentified officer, who were serving as backup approached, and McShane also fired his gun, Palmer said. Brown was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where his condition was unknown Wednesday. The juvenile suspects, ages 13 and 15, fled but were arrested later.

Charges have not yet been filed against Brown or the others.

Garman and McShane are police veterans, having joined the force in 1997 and 1987 respectively. Garman was named the 2007 Minneapolis Police Department Officer of the Year, Palmer said. The department's Homicide and Internal Affairs units are investigating.

lpabst@startribune.com • 612-673-4628

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