A Morrison County cop has been put on leave after a violent traffic stop escalated into a stabbing, leaving one man hospitalized, according to Minnesota authorities.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCa) released the details of the May 25th altercation involving Deputy Axel Lange, who has six years on the job, and Rice resident John Michael Gans, 33. The incident occurred after a late-night traffic pullover for speeding and suspicion of drunk driving, the DPS reported.
An attempt to arrest Gans for alleged DWI turned physical when he resisted and a fight ensued, said authorities. The struggle, which lasted over five minutes, reached a critical point when Gans reportedly attempted to seize Lange's firearm. "At one point during the more than five minute scuffle, after telling Gans to let go of his gun, Lange used his knife," the BCA elaborated in a statement.
In the fray, Deputy Lange employed the blade because he could not draw his gun, the agency noted. Lange's body-worn and squad car cameras caught fragments of the confrontation. These recordings are under review by BCA agents, as part of the ongoing investigation, the BCA said in a press release.
After the incident, Lange and other officers arriving as backup provided first aid to Gans, who is now said to be in stable condition at a local hospital. Lange, meanwhile, has been placed on critical incident leave, a standard procedure in situations involving the use of force by law enforcement. The BCA's findings from their investigation will eventually be turned over to the Morrison County Attorney's Office, officials said, although no recommendations for charges will be included.
