The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has released the names of two officers involved in a shooting incident in Otter Tail County on July 9. In addition to identifying the man at the center of the event as Todd Ole Burris, 36, from Bemidji, the BCA has named Lt. Luke Sweere of the Becker County Sheriff's Office and Officer Philip Vaughn of the Detroit Lakes Police Department as the two officers who discharged their weapons during the confrontation.
Both Lt. Sweere and Officer Vaughn have been placed on critical incident leave by their respective departments following the exchange of gunfire that injured Burris. Lt. Sweere has 26 years of service behind him, Officer Vaughn 16. The incident escalated from a domestic assault situation where Burris allegedly assaulted a woman, took her handgun, and damaged her vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Burris was later spotted by Lt. Sweere in Detroit Lakes, MN, where he engaged in a traffic stop before suddenly attempting to flee. A pursuit ensued into Otter Tail County, leading to the rest stop off Highway 10 in Frazee, where the shootout occurred. Burris, who exited his vehicle and pointed a handgun at Lt. Sweere, was subsequently shot in the legs. No law enforcement personnel were injured during this conflict.
Medical assistance was rendered to Burris at the scene before he was transported to a hospital in Fargo, N.D. Upon his release, he is expected to face charges, although specific details have not yet been made public. According to information provided by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, "BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun and spent shell casings at the scene." The BCA is currently reviewing body camera footage from the officers as part of their ongoing investigation.
The BCA's inquiry into the use of force by officers Sweere and Vaughn comes at the request of the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office. The results of the investigation, once concluded, will be forwarded to the Otter Tail County Attorney's Office for review, but the BCA will not provide any recommendations regarding the findings.
