ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified three Itasca County Sheriff’s Office deputies who discharged their firearms during an officer involved shooting incident that happened on Sun., Feb. 3, near Hill City. All are on standard administrative leave.
- Sergeant Ryan Gunderson has been with the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office for 21 years.
- Lieutenant Albert Morse has been with the department for 21 years.
- Deputy Derek Peterlin has been with the department for two years.
The subject injured during the incident has also been identified. Roy Thomas Miller, 42, of 10541 Walker Road in rural Itasca County, continues to receive treatment for his injuries at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 10, deputies responded to a 911 call about an armed, suicidal man who had been involved in a domestic assault. The victim was no longer at the home but the subject, now identified as Miller, was still there.
Deputies positioned themselves on the road at the end of the long driveway. At one point, Miller fired multiple shots. Miller then entered his vehicle and drove down the driveway. He fired several additional shots, and then ran his vehicle into two of the deputies’ vehicles. The three deputies fired their weapons.
Miller’s vehicle struck a nearby snowbank and stopped. Following deputies’ commands, Miller then exited the vehicle.
The deputies rendered aid to Miller at the scene for a gunshot injury. Miller was taken by ambulance to Grand Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids and then to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered two guns from next to the vehicle. Deputies were not wearing body cameras. Squad dash cameras captured the incident.
The BCA is investigating the officer involved shooting incident at the request of the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office is investigating the domestic assault.
When the investigation into the officer involved shooting is complete, the BCA will turn its findings over without recommendation to the Itasca County Attorney’s Office for review.
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