Coon Rapids Police Department Announces Temporary Withholding Of Body Camera Footage Of Officer-Involved Shooting

Coon Rapids Police Department Announces Temporary Withholding Of Body Camera Footage Of Officer-Involved Shooting

Coon Rapids, MN – June 3, 2025 – The Coon Rapids Police Department has announced a temporary withholding of body camera footage related to a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 21, citing an ongoing active investigation. This decision comes despite a Minnesota law that generally mandates the release of body camera data within 14 days of a fatal police shooting.

According to a release from the Coon Rapids Police Department, officers were initially dispatched to a residence on the 300 block of 111th Avenue for a domestic incident involving a man armed with a knife. Upon arrival, officers reportedly heard a woman screaming, who then exited the home with another man also present in the residence. The woman was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries, including a cut to her hand.

The remaining man, later identified by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) as 65-year-old Robert Edward Davis of Coon Rapids, allegedly refused to leave the home and was still holding a knife. Police reports indicate officers repeatedly instructed Davis to drop the weapon.

During the prolonged encounter, an officer reportedly fired a "less lethal round" at Davis, who then retreated further into the home. Officers subsequently entered the residence in an attempt to arrest him. A second officer then allegedly deployed another "less lethal" round. The city's release states that "when the suspect moved toward police," a third officer discharged a firearm, and a fourth officer deployed a Taser as Davis attempted to get up. Davis was transported to a hospital, where he later died from a gunshot wound, according to preliminary findings from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office.

The BCA has identified the four officers involved in the use-of-force incident: Officer Timothy Morin, who fired his handgun, and Officers Steve Minion and Michael Blair, who both used 40mm less-lethal launchers. Officer Emily Giese deployed her Taser. Their years of law enforcement experience range from seven to twenty-four years.

Coon Rapids city spokesperson Jennifer Anderson stated that the Coon Rapids Police Department determined that releasing the body camera footage at this time would "interfere with the ongoing investigation," exercising an exception allowed under Minnesota statute. The BCA is actively reviewing the body camera video as part of their independent investigation. Once the BCA completes its investigation, findings will be presented to the Anoka County Attorney's Office for review, without a charging recommendation.

The incident underscores the complexities of domestic disturbance calls and the increasing scrutiny surrounding law enforcement's use of force. The temporary withholding of footage is a point of contention for some advocates of police transparency, while law enforcement agencies often argue it is necessary to protect the integrity of an Factual research is necessary to confirm the current police chief or if the decision is made at a departmental level without attribution to a specific chief. In many cases, city spokespersons convey departmental decisions.

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