St. Paul police arrested a man who led officers on a brief chase after pointing his weapon inside a Wal-Mart.
Around 2:50 p.m. Sunday, a uniformed off-duty St. Paul police officer approached a "suspected shoplifter" inside the store's entryway.
The 34-year-old man from Tomah, Wis., pointed a weapon at the officer, fled on foot to his pickup before pointing his weapon again at the officer, authorities said. Police did not say what kind of weapon the suspect used.
Sgt. Paul Paulos said the officer then fired his gun "several times" at the suspect, resulting in no injuries. The suspect led officers on a half-mile chase from the Wal-Mart at 1450 University Av. to the 1600 block of Edmund Avenue, where he was arrested.
There was still a police presence at the Wal-Mart by Sunday evening where half the parking lot was taped off. Another area near Edmund Avenue was taped off where the suspect's vehicle had crashed into another car.
The off-duty officer was put on a three-day administrative leave as per standard procedure, Paulos said. The suspect was in custody pending charges.
Karen Zamora
