BCA Shares New Details in White Bear Lake Incident
February 1, 2023
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has confirmed the identities of the White Bear Lake police officers and the subject involved in a use-of-force incident in White Bear Lake on Jan. 24. This is an open and active investigation.
- Sgt. Eric Gadbois fired his department handgun. He has 12 years of law enforcement experience.
- Officer Ryan Sheak fired his department handgun. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.
Four White Bear Lake police officers went to an apartment in the evening of Jan. 24 to arrest Daniel Loren Holmgren Jr, 33, of White Bear Lake, who was wanted on felony domestic violence charges. When they arrived, they learned Holmgren was in a bedroom with the door shut. Three officers entered the apartment. The fourth stayed by the front door. The three officers announced who they were and the reason they were there. Holmgren refused to leave the bedroom and was verbally non-compliant with their orders. Gadbois fired pepper balls under the closed bedroom door. Holmgren then opened the door and fired several rounds, striking Sheak twice. Gadbois and Sheak returned fire. The officers left the apartment to get medical care for Sheak. Holmgren barricaded himself in the apartment but later surrendered peacefully after officers deployed tear gas into the apartment. He was unharmed and booked into the Ramsey County Jail. He has since been charged in connection to this incident.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered a semi-automatic pistol at the scene. The officers were wearing body cameras that captured portions of the incident. Agents are reviewing this footage as part of the investigation. It will be made public when the case is closed and fully adjudicated.
The White Bear Lake Police Department asked the BCA to investigate both the use-of-force portion of this incident and Holmgren’s actions for criminal charges. The criminal charges have been filed. Once the use-of-force portion of the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for review.
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bonney.bowman@state.mn.us