A Minneapolis man on parole was charged Tuesday in connection with a St. Paul police shooting. No one was hurt in the Saturday incident.
Aaron L. Gant, 29, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with possession of a firearm by an ineligible person.
According to the complaint: Officer Mark Nelson followed and stopped a car being driven by Gant about 9 a.m. Saturday. The officer activated the lights and siren of his marked squad car.
Gant exited the driver's side and ignored orders to get back in the car, the complaint said. Nelson drew his Taser, and Gant fled with the officer in pursuit.
Nelson ordered Gant to stop and show his hands. Then, according to the complaint, he saw a gun in Gant's hand, so he dropped his Taser and drew his gun. He ordered Gant to drop the gun before firing at Gant, who was not hit.
Officers arrested Gant after finding him in an exterior basement stairwell in the 800 block of N. Clark Street. A handgun was found behind a shed in the 900 block of N. Arkwright Street.
Gant told police he was on parole after serving six years in prison, according to the complaint. He was released in May 2011. He said that he had the gun as collateral for a loan and that he got scared and nervous when the police car was following him, the complaint said.
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