Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Minnesota Trooper in Freeway Shooting Incident

Minneapolis, MN — A federal judge has recently ruled to dismiss a lawsuit filed against Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan related to the deadly shooting of Ricky Cobb II. The incident, which occurred during a traffic stop on Interstate 94 in the early hours of July 31, 2023, has been a contentious topic, sparking debates on police use of force and civil rights.

The decision, handed down by Judge Nancy Brasel, terminated the civil case initiated by the family of Cobb, who was 33 at the time of his death. During the stop, state troopers noted the absence of functioning taillights on Cobb’s vehicle, which led to the attempted arrest after troopers discovered Cobb was allegedly violating a Ramsey County protection order. As the situation escalated, Cobb attempted to drive away while troopers were attempting to detain him, prompting Londregan to discharge his weapon several times into Cobb’s car, fatally injuring him.

The lawsuit, filed by Cobb’s family in April following the incident, accused Londregan and another trooper at the scene, Brett Seide, of excessive use of force and violation of Cobb’s civil rights. Londregan’s legal team responded with a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in May, leading to a judicial hearing towards the end of July.

In her ruling, Judge Brasel found insufficient evidence to conclude that Londregan had violated a “clearly-established right” at the time of the shooting. She pointed out that the principle of qualified immunity shields government officials from civil lawsuits in the absence of a clear constitutional rights violation.

Further elaborating on her decision, Brasel mentioned that scene evidence did not support the claims made in the lawsuit. She justified the use of lethal force as “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances where Londregan believed there was an imminent risk of serious physical harm to himself or others.

Adding another layer to the legal proceedings, Londregan had faced criminal charges regarding his actions during the incident. However, those charges were dismissed in June by the Hennepin County Attorney, Mary Moriarty, who stated that proving unauthorized use of force beyond a reasonable doubt was unfeasible.

While Londregan’s part in the civil lawsuit has reached a conclusion, the case against Trooper Brett Seide is still ongoing. Seide has also sought the dismissal of the charges against him, with a hearing on his motion conducted on October 9, and the court’s decision is still awaited.

This closure of one chapter in the case leaves open questions about the complexities of lawful enforcement and the protection of civil rights in high-stress encounters between police and civilians. It underscores an ongoing national debate over the balance of safety, law enforcement, and individual rights.

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