Posted on 06/08/2007 4:03:44 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The man who shot and wounded an undercover Robbinsdale police officer is now out of jail, and may not be charged with any crimes.
Martin Treptow walked out of the Anoka County Jail Friday afternoon, and told reporters he shot the officer because he feared for his family's safety.
Treptow says he got into a dispute on the road with a man who turned out to be the undercover officer. He says he did not know the man was a cop.
"We're about three feet away from each other and he's pointing the gun at my wife," Treptow said. "I had to defend my family."
Treptow, who used to work as a security guard and has a permit to carry a gun, pulled his own weapon and fired.
Treptow, his wife and two children, then drove to a nearby convenience store and called police.
Police say some witnesses back up parts of Treptow's story, but the officer says it was Treptow who pulled his gun first.
Coon Rapids Deputy Police Chief Timothy Snell says both drivers could have brought the situation to a better conclusion. "I think there were points in this incident when either side could have backed off," he said.
Treptow is now free, can resume carrying a gun, and can travel anywhere he likes.
Prosecutors say it may take weeks to finish the investigation.
The officer could not be reached for comment. Authorities declined to provide his name on Thursday, because he works undercover and has several cases pending.
No, it appears that the LEO has a solid record. He’s young, but with no apparent backgound as a hot head. That said, if one is working undercover, unannounced, outside ones jurisdiction, one should avoid this sort of altercation.
As a carry permit holder, with the wife and kids in the car, one should also avoid this sort of altercation.
Why does anyone need to point a gun at a wife and kids ?
Hey, Eric....
Good to see you.
How’s it goin’?
Who is the professional and who is trained to understand his role as to probable cause. A cop pulls his gun on anyone unjustifiably should be fired on the spot. It is no job for a hot head and his back ground per your comments means nothing. I mean we do have the recent case of the cop who’s wife went missing and found that he had pulled a gun on her and threatened to kill her and himself. His dumb boss let him keep his job and covered for him until it became public. Then he fired him!
I’ve had my CCW for 16 months now and carry daily everywhere but my office. I concur, your attitude changes and you realize you have to have a level head at all times.
Maybe he’s a hothead, maybe not. The investigation SHOULD be able to determine, from the facts and eyewitnesses, what really happened.
My point, from the beginning has been......Between an undercover cop on duty and a permit holder with his car full of family....this incident NEVER should have happened.
> Well, they say that an armed society is a polite society.
Only if you think the other guy is armed. Apparently the off duty cop thought he was the only one with a gun.
You have to go with the witnesses on this one.
Let us hope that it works out that way....
I have no idea if the horn works on my truck. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve used it......
;-)
I would have certainly kept my eye on him, but unless he became menancing or threatening, I probably wouldn't have pulled out my gun where he could see it--although I would make sure that my gun was where I could pull it if necessary.
Yeah, in some areas it's the "shoot me!" button.
“Yeah, in some areas it’s the “shoot me!” button.”
HAH!!!!
so the cop says the guy pulled his gun first, then just exactly WHY... was he pointing HIS gun at the woman and children???
That seems to be the only logical reason to believe the shooters version of events.
Not disclosing the name until other officers can take over his caseload. He's not going to be a prosecution witness anytime soon
as for your statement about looking like a cop 24/7, that is just wrong. when a cop is off duty, you want him to advertise what he does? and what about undercovers? they have to look like criminals.
He looked scuzzy. He had just stopped forward motion into the store and was turning toward me. He was reaching for his wallet, but how could I be sure? How much benefit of doubt do you give someone? Once they have a gun trained on you it is too late to act. One of the rules of concealed carry is concealment, he broke the rule.
“Not disclosing the name until other officers can take over his caseload. He’s not going to be a prosecution witness anytime soon”
Excellent observation, Oztrich Boy....
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