A Crookston, Minn., man was charged Friday with four counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer after a shootout in rural Crookston on Thursday.
Two of the responding officers in the Polk County incident were struck as nine officers exchanged gunfire with Michael J. Perry, 23. Perry survived a single gunshot, sustaining only a minor injury. The two officers who were struck had their bullet-resistant vests to thank for preventing serious injury.
Perry was arraigned in Polk County District Court on Friday. Unconditional bail was set at $1 million cash.
Sgt. Brian Lundeen, 44, was struck by gunfire to the back of his bullet-resistant vest but was not hurt, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said. Lundeen has been with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.
Investigator Nathan Rasch, 36, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was grazed by a bullet on the back of his protective vest.
According to the BCA, early investigative findings indicate the shooting happened this way:
Officers from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Crookston Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol responded just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday to a 911 report of shots fired inside a residence at 28409 300th St. SW., near Crookston.
As deputies spoke with family members outside the home, Perry began firing at them from inside, witnesses told authorities.
