鈥� The man involved in an attempted traffic stop and pursuit involving an officer from the Eden Valley Police Department on Saturday died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office.
The man has been identified as Stephen Christ Poissant, 34, of Brainerd.
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According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Sunday, the officer involved, Evan Borscheid, did exchange gunfire with Poissant. The round from Borscheid's service weapon grazed Poissant's knee.
Evans, who has served in law enforcement for five years, was not injured. He is on standard administrative leave as the BCA continues its investigation, the release said.
Following its investigation, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the Meeker County Attorney's Office for review, according to the BCA release.
According to a press release Saturday from the Meeker County Sheriff's Office, the incident began around 2:20 a.m. Saturday, when Borscheid tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense. The BCA said the stop was for speeding and a headlight violation. Poissant fled out of Eden Valley on Minnesota Highway 55 with the officer pursuing. About one mile west of town, the vehicle went into a ditch.
Poissant, who was the lone occupant, exited the vehicle, and according to the sheriff's release, gunfire was exchanged. After Poissant fired the fatal shot, Borscheid attempted life-saving measures, but Poissant died at the scene.
A handgun was recovered at the scene, and the incident was captured on the squad car's dash cam, the BCA release said. The Eden Valley Police Department does not have body cameras, the sheriff's release said.
Responding to the scene were the Meeker County Sheriff's Office, Stearns County Sheriff's Office, Litchfield Police Department, Watkins Ambulance and LifeLink III.
