CONTACT:

Jill Oliveira
651-793-2726
jill.oliveira@state.mn.us

March 15, 2022

Names Released in Mahnomen County Officer Involved Shooting

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the person who was injured during an officer involved shooting incident that happened on March 13 in Mahnomen County. Shequoya Deanne Basswood, 20, of Mahnomen, is being treated for gunshot injuries at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.

The sheriff’s deputy who discharged his firearm during the incident has also been identified. Deputy Dakota Czerny (Zer-nee) has been with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office for one year. Deputy Czerny is on standard administrative leave.

A Mahnomen County sheriff’s deputy attempted to make a traffic stop for a speeding violation on eastbound Highway 200 in Mahnomen County at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle fled and a pursuit began. At one point, the pursuing deputy’s vehicle slid into a ditch and Deputy Czerny picked up the pursuit. The pursuit ended when Deputy Czerny used the PIT maneuver and the fleeing vehicle went into the ditch at County Road 4 and Church Street in Village of Naytahwaush.

Two of the six vehicle occupants, including the driver, fled the scene on foot. Deputy Czerny attempted to detain the four passengers who remained at the scene. As Deputy Czerny was detaining another passenger, Basswood produced a handgun. At one point shortly thereafter, Deputy Czerny discharged his firearm, striking Basswood.

A handgun was recovered from next to where she was shot. It is unclear at this point whether Basswood discharged her firearm.

Deputy Czerny provided medical aid at the scene after which Basswood was taken to Mahnomen Health Center in Mahnomen and then transported by helicopter to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo where she remains. No one else was injured during the incident.

One of the two males who fled on foot have been identified and interviewed, but the other has not been located or identified. The BCA is asking that person, or persons who can identify that person, to contact the BCA at 761-793-7000 so that the BCA can interview them.

The incident was captured on dash camera and the aftermath of the incident was captured on body camera.

The White Earth Tribal Police Department provided assistance at the scene following the incident.

The BCA investigation is ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office for review.

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