ST. PAUL — The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who died during a Feb. 10 use-of-force incident in Duluth as Donald Felver III, 30, of Duluth.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the deputies from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office who used force during this incident. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office placed both deputies on critical incident leave. 

• St. Louis County Sgt. Joshua Berndt fired his department-issued firearm. He has 19 years of law enforcement experience.
• St. Louis County Deputy Matthew Sobczak fired his department-issued firearm. He has 16 years of law enforcement experience.

According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, St. Louis County deputies were attempting to stop an erratic driver, later identified as Felver, on Grand Avenue just before 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 10 when Felver fled from them in his vehicle and a pursuit ensued. During this pursuit, Sgt. Berndt performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle on the 7900 block of Grand Avenue. Felver’s vehicle came to a stop sideways in the roadway.

Sgt. Berndt and Deputy Sobczak exited their patrol vehicles and issued verbal commands to Felver as they approached his vehicle. Gunshots were then fired from inside the vehicle in the direction of the deputies. Sgt. Berndt and Deputy Sobczak returned fire, striking Felver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Felver was pronounced dead on the scene. No deputies were injured.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun and spent casings from inside of Felver’s vehicle. Body-worn cameras were in use and captured portions of this incident.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office requested the BCA investigate the use-of-force. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation on charges to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office for review.