Police ID St. Paul Officer Who Shot At Shoplifting Suspect
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - St. Paul police have identified the police officer who shot at an armed shoplifting suspect Sunday afternoon.
Police say officer Michael Tschida fired his gun into the suspect's pickup truck after the suspect pointed a weapon at him.
Tschida, a five-year veteran of the department, was placed on standard three-day administrative leave on Sunday.
The Pioneer Press is reporting that Tschida received a 30-day suspension in October 2013 for a workplace conduct issue.
On Sunday, he was working an off-duty security job at the Walmart on University Avenue when he approached the suspected shoplifter.
Police say the suspect, James Frei, 34, of Tomah, Wisconsin, pointed a weapon at Tschida and then ran into the parking lot.
About six blocks northwest of the Walmart, Frei crashed his car on the 1600 block of Edmund Avenue and was caught by police as he tried to flee on foot.
Neither Tschida nor Frei were injured in the incident.