Update on Oakdale Critical Incident from January 28, 2016

JANUARY 29, 2016

 

The Saint Paul Police Department today provided additional details about a critical incident that occurred the morning of Thursday, Jan. 28, on the 2700-Block of Granite Ave. in Oakdale, Minn.

 

The incident occurred when officers from the Oakdale Police Department and a special agent from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension executed a search warrant and encountered an armed adult male who shot an officer in his right arm.  

 

The Saint Paul Police Department, which was asked by the BCA to investigate the incident, has found that the officers involved knocked and announced their presence at the door more than once.

 

After receiving no response from inside the house, officers forced open the door and entered. As officers began to clear and secure the residence, which is standard procedure during search warrants, an Oakdale Officer was shot by Mark Kuzel, 53, of Oakdale, who was inside the house.

 

At this point, another Oakdale officer clearing the residence returned fire towards Kuzel. All of the officers who were in the house, retreated to the front door, took cover and established verbal communication with Kuzel.

 

According to officers who were interviewed during the investigation, Kuzel stated he did not want to go to jail. Officers then heard a single gunshot come from inside the house. Officers found Kuzel suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. Officers immediately rendered aid and called for medics, who transported Kuzel to Regions Hospital, where he later died.

 

The injured Oakdale officer was also transported to Regions hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Oakdale officer who returned fire in this incident is Officer Joe Groppoli.

 

As more information becomes available, it will be released on the Saint Paul Police Department's Twitter account, @SPPDpio.

 

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