A Minneapolis police officer has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of an internal probe into a Nov. 20 episode in which he fired one shot at a vehicle that had inadvertently rammed his squad car, police union officials confirmed Thursday.
Union president Lt. Bob Kroll said that the officer, Efrem Hamilton, was relieved of duty on Wednesday "pending an investigation," but declined to provide details about the nature of the inquiry. Hamilton previously had been placed on paid administrative leave.
Kroll said Hamilton, whom he called a respected officer and former Marine, is likely to be questioned by Internal Affairs investigators next week concerning his role in the shooting, which happened during a downtown scuffle just after bar-closing.
A spokesman for the Hennepin County attorney's office said Thursday afternoon that the case had been sent to his office for possible prosecution but had been sent back for "additional investigation."
"It's not unusual for cases to come to us and we think that there's a couple more things that it needs and send it back," said the spokesman, Chuck Laszewski.
He wouldn't comment on whether charges are being considered.
The internal investigation followed the filing of complaints with the city by the six people who were in the vehicle. They accused the officer of acting improperly by firing his service handgun at their car.
Hamilton was responding to the scene of a large brawl-turned-shooting near Target Field, authorities said.
