Police believe they arrested chief suspect in officer shooting

Authorities believe the suspect in custody for an early Saturday burglary is also the man who shot a Minneapolis police officer in the Jordan neighborhood later that morning, easing concern that the shooter might still be at large.

Detectives are questioning Andrew J. Neal, 43, in connection with the shooting of officer Jordan Davis. The officer was wounded after answering a burglary call at the apartment of Neal's former girlfriend.

Neal was arrested Saturday on suspicion of violating probation, burglary and domestic aggravated assault, The arrest came after a tense eight-hour manhunt through the North Side. Neal is expected to be charged Tuesday.

Police have released few details about the incident, but they consider the primary suspect to be Neal, who is accused of breaking into the woman's apartment before being chased off by her current boyfriend, said a source familiar with the case.

Police Chief Janeé Harteau announced several hours after the shooting that Davis had been "targeted" solely because he was a police officer. Harteau has not elaborated on the case since.

Police union officials have said the shooting is a reminder of the risks officers face on seemingly routine calls.

The incident represented the latest in a series of shootings nationwide targeting police, including the killings of two New York City officers who were gunned down while sitting in their police car.

The alleged victim of the burglary told investigators and later recounted in a television news story that Neal had broken into her apartment. She hasn't returned to her apartment, apparently fearing reprisal. A nearby church took up a collection to put her up in a motel temporarily.

"Incidents like these are times where the community and the Police Department get closer and connect more," Deputy Police Chief Matt Clark said.

Neal was arrested about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 1100 block of Logan Avenue N. after police were tipped to his whereabouts. Clark said Neal was arrested without incident.

"This was tragic, but really turned out well for the officer and the community, really brought us closer," Fourth Precinct inspector Mike Friestleben said at a news conference at the North Side station.

Davis, who was released from the hospital over the weekend, is recovering from his injuries, Friestleben said. "He's an officer we want on the street every night."

Davis, his arm in a sling, appeared in a short video released Monday by his department. In it, Davis praised colleagues who "stepped up to the plate and got me to the emergency room."

Libor Jany • 612-673-4064 Twitter:@StribJany