ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the man involved in the use-of-force incident in Walker on Aug. 8 as Dillon Ray Kloehn, 31, of Laporte. 

The BCA has also identified the police officer from the Walker Police Department who used force during this incident:

• Officer Kent Cleveland discharged his firearm. He has 36 years of law enforcement experience. The Walker Police Department has placed him on critical incident leave.

According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, a resident on the 500 block of Fifth Street in Walker flagged down Officer Cleveland while he was on patrol. The resident stated an unknown man had been in their backyard and described him as wearing only boxer shorts and carrying an unknown object. 

Officer Cleveland checked the area and located a male, later identified as Kloehn, matching the description. Kloehn fled on foot from Officer Cleveland when he attempted to speak to him. Officer Cleveland pursued Kloehn and observed that he had a knife in his hand. Kloehn ran inside the Dollar General store on the 800 block of Minnesota Avenue during the foot pursuit.  

Officer Cleveland followed Kloehn into the store. Kloehn was still carrying the knife and was threatening the staff as he moved through the store. Officer Cleveland repeatedly ordered Kloehn to drop the knife but he refused. Kloehn threw items at Officer Cleveland and attempted to spray him with an aerosol product. Officer Cleveland exited the store and Kloehn pushed through shopping carts and followed. Once outside, Kloehn ran toward Officer Cleveland with the knife and Officer Cleveland fired one shot, striking him in the arm. Kloehn then fled across the roadway before surrendering to Officer Cleveland. 

Officers rendered medical aid to Kloehn, who was transported to the hospital for treatment. He has since been released and booked into the Itasca County jail on suspicion of robbery and assault. Officer Cleveland was uninjured. 

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a knife at the scene. Officer Cleveland was wearing a body camera that was activated.  BCA agents will be reviewing that footage as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Walker Police Department requested the BCA investigate Officer Cleveland’s use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the Cass County Attorney’s Office for review.