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http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0719202005_new19news1.asp
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 — Time: 12:57:05 PM EST
Man shot three times
By KEN CRITES, Staff Writer [email protected]
A 26-year-old man shot three times during a confrontation with police officers in southwest Minot Sunday morning was reported to be alive and recovering at Trinity Hospital Monday.
A police report distributed during a news conference at Minot's City Hall Monday afternoon said at about 11 a.m. Sunday, two officers were dispatched to an apartment building at 1308-5th St. SW.
A caller had reported to police that a man was covered with blood from apparent self-inflicted wounds and was wielding a knife.
When the two officers arrived, they found a very agitated subject wielding a 6-inch steakknife. "He was indeed covered in blood and had apparently inflicted wounds upon himself," the report said.
The subject, identified by police as Douglas Ray Bell, came out of the house brandishing a raised knife and went after an officer in an imminently threatening manner. Even though the officer had her duty weapon drawn, she noticed two bystanders were in the line of fire, and didn't fire her gun. However, the second officer was at an angle to the man and fired two shots to avert injury to the first officer.
A police statement said the shooting happened "as a result of the actions of the man."
After being shot twice, the man stopped briefly and in the next few minutes continued to fight with the officers. Both officers sprayed the man with pepper spray and used expandable batons as intermediary defenses, police said.
The report said the man was actually on top of one officer and attempted to wrestle the .45-caliber pistol away from that officer. As that was taking place, the report said the pistol discharged a third time and struck the man in the leg. It's believed that Bell pulled the pistol's trigger during the scuffle, police said.
Bell was shot in the chest, was hit with another shot to his torso and then in his leg.
The wounded man continued to resist the officers and many times asked them to shoot him, "to shoot him in the head," the report said. Bell was finally subdued and handcuffed. He was strapped to an ambulance gurney and taken to Trinity Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Kukowski said Monday that Bell underwent surgery Sunday for "a little over an hour ... I was told he was going to pull through."
It was announced by Police Chief Dan Draovitch during the news conference Monday that Bell was continuing to improve after his surgery.
The chief went on to say, "It is my personal contention that the officers acted appropriately, bravely, professionally and within the Minot Police Department's policy throughout the entire situation.
"It is our policy, however, to have an outside agency investigate such a situation. Therefore the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Ward County State's Attorney will review all evidence and investigate this matter. The officers are on paid administrative leave at this time."
Draovitch did not identify the officers. He said they were still being debriefed. The police docket, however, said Officers Kari Salmon and Jason Sundbakken were dispatched to the call.
Draovitch said both officers suffered minor injuries to their extremities and both were struck numerous times in the head by Bell.
Draovitch said no charges have yet been brought in the incident, but that charges are being reviewed. He said it might be several days before the police department's internal investigation and the Crime Bureau investigation are completed.
Draovitch, Kukowski, Capt. Jeff Balentine, Crime Bureau supervisor Dallas Carlson and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven attended the brief news conference.
Draovitch said the last police shooting within Minot occurred about 25 years ago when a man was shot and wounded by an officer during a confrontation at a bar in northwest Minot.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 — Time: 12:57:05 PM EST
Man shot three times
By KEN CRITES, Staff Writer [email protected]
A 26-year-old man shot three times during a confrontation with police officers in southwest Minot Sunday morning was reported to be alive and recovering at Trinity Hospital Monday.
A police report distributed during a news conference at Minot's City Hall Monday afternoon said at about 11 a.m. Sunday, two officers were dispatched to an apartment building at 1308-5th St. SW.
A caller had reported to police that a man was covered with blood from apparent self-inflicted wounds and was wielding a knife.
When the two officers arrived, they found a very agitated subject wielding a 6-inch steakknife. "He was indeed covered in blood and had apparently inflicted wounds upon himself," the report said.
The subject, identified by police as Douglas Ray Bell, came out of the house brandishing a raised knife and went after an officer in an imminently threatening manner. Even though the officer had her duty weapon drawn, she noticed two bystanders were in the line of fire, and didn't fire her gun. However, the second officer was at an angle to the man and fired two shots to avert injury to the first officer.
A police statement said the shooting happened "as a result of the actions of the man."
After being shot twice, the man stopped briefly and in the next few minutes continued to fight with the officers. Both officers sprayed the man with pepper spray and used expandable batons as intermediary defenses, police said.
The report said the man was actually on top of one officer and attempted to wrestle the .45-caliber pistol away from that officer. As that was taking place, the report said the pistol discharged a third time and struck the man in the leg. It's believed that Bell pulled the pistol's trigger during the scuffle, police said.
Bell was shot in the chest, was hit with another shot to his torso and then in his leg.
The wounded man continued to resist the officers and many times asked them to shoot him, "to shoot him in the head," the report said. Bell was finally subdued and handcuffed. He was strapped to an ambulance gurney and taken to Trinity Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Kukowski said Monday that Bell underwent surgery Sunday for "a little over an hour ... I was told he was going to pull through."
It was announced by Police Chief Dan Draovitch during the news conference Monday that Bell was continuing to improve after his surgery.
The chief went on to say, "It is my personal contention that the officers acted appropriately, bravely, professionally and within the Minot Police Department's policy throughout the entire situation.
"It is our policy, however, to have an outside agency investigate such a situation. Therefore the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Ward County State's Attorney will review all evidence and investigate this matter. The officers are on paid administrative leave at this time."
Draovitch did not identify the officers. He said they were still being debriefed. The police docket, however, said Officers Kari Salmon and Jason Sundbakken were dispatched to the call.
Draovitch said both officers suffered minor injuries to their extremities and both were struck numerous times in the head by Bell.
Draovitch said no charges have yet been brought in the incident, but that charges are being reviewed. He said it might be several days before the police department's internal investigation and the Crime Bureau investigation are completed.
Draovitch, Kukowski, Capt. Jeff Balentine, Crime Bureau supervisor Dallas Carlson and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven attended the brief news conference.
Draovitch said the last police shooting within Minot occurred about 25 years ago when a man was shot and wounded by an officer during a confrontation at a bar in northwest Minot.
