Man Arrested After St. Paul Officer Is Shot In Face With Weapon
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An 18-year veteran of the St. Paul Police Department was shot in the face by a high-powered BB gun or pellet gun during a standoff late Friday afternoon.
St. Paul Police say Officers Michael Talley and Melissa Leistikow initially went to a home in the North End neighborhood near Lyton Place and Park Street on a report of a suicidal man.
When they arrived, 53-year-old Robert Wood allegedly came to the door with a knife. Talley and Leistikow backed away from Wood, who then fired a weapon out the window. Talley was hit in the face.
The shooting led to a two-hour standoff between police and Wood, who barricaded himself in his home. The area was not evacuated, but police blocked off about a four-block zone around the home.
Police say several shots were fired from the house during the standoff. Wood eventually surrender and was arrested without incident just after 4:30 p.m. He was naked during the arrest.
Talley's injuries are non-life threatening, and he is expected to be okay. Leistikow is a rookie with only two weeks on the job. Leistikow was not injured.
St. Paul Police Sgt. Paul Paulos says situations like this are a reminder of just how dangerous law enforcement jobs can be.
"It's the thing that we fear the most," Paulos said. "It is very scary for the men and women of this police department."
Police say this is not their first time dealing with Wood. They had been called to his home five times in the past year on welfare checks.
Charges should be filed against him as soon as Monday.
The exact type of weapon used to injure the officer is unknown. Police are investigating the incident.
