A LONG SHIFT
The South Metro Drug Task Force narcotics officers
learned three illegal alien suspects brought a kilo of cocaine into the area. We were able to obtain a search warrant
for the Eagan apartment belonging to one of the suspects. Fearing the suspects would be violent we used a SWAT team
to enter the apartment during the afternoon hours of that summer day. No one was present inside of the apartment at
the time of our entry and search. We did find 1/3 of the cocaine kilo concealed in a closet. We also learned the
kilo had been divided into thirds. One third was in a Minneapolis home and the other was in a Lilydale apartment.
As we completed the search I directed the other narcotics
agents to head toward the next search location in Minneapolis while I finished the paperwork in the Eagan suspect's apartment.
I was alone in the apartment and dressed in plainclothes. As I prepared to leave I heard someone placing a key in the
door and preparing to enter the apartment. I quickly drew my gun and positioned myself near the entry foyer. As
the door opened I identified myself and ordered the suspect not to move. Unfortunately I didn't let the suspect come
far enough into the apartment to prevent any flight down the apartment building hallway. He drew a large knife from
his waistband (Foolishly bringing a knife to a gunfight.) Even though the situation allowed for me to use deadly force
I chose not to do so. He then ran out the door and the foot chase was on.
In my haste I forgot to grab my portable police radio.
As I chased him out of the building at gunpoint I shouted to a woman on a nearby balcony directing her to call 911 and to
state an officer needed assistance ... immediately. I lost sight of the suspect as he ran into a nearby heavily wooded
area. Evening darkness had made the pursuit extremely dangerous. I feared he would hide behind a tree and
stab me as I passed. I broke off the chase and waited for assistance. After half of the entire Eagan police
force arrived the suspect was located by a police dog. He had been lying in the woods hiding.
The booking of that suspect caused me to miss the
Minneapolis search entry which recovered another third of the kilo. We all had been working 22 straight hours when we
raided the Lilydale Apartment of the third suspect. He was arrested and handcuffed upon our entry. I was to interview
him at the scene. I brought him into the bedroom and removed the handcuffs in order to develop a 'trust' and get him
to confess. I had him take a seat. We were the only two people in the room. All of the other cops were searching
other rooms.
My mistake was to let him pick where he was to sit.
He sat on the edge of the waterbed. I sat down next to him and took out my tape recorder to record his staement.
He then pulled out a fully-loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun from between the waterbed bladder and the side board.
(Imagine me foolishly bringing a tape recorder to a gunfight!) I did not have time to draw my gun. I simply grabbed
on to his gun with both of my hands and the struggle was on. I screamed for assistance and was able to wrest the
gun from him as other officers arrived in the room. They subdued him and then looked at me like "what the hell happened?"
I sheepishly admitted I had let my guard down.
The three suspects were eventually all arrested and
served prison time before being deported. One suspect cooperated by testifying about the source of the drugs.
That testimony landed a Columbian in prison with a life sentence.
Our shift ended 31 hours after it began. After
being threatened with a knife and a gun I thought I had earned my pay that day!
