Authorities have released more details about the deadly June 27 shooting in which police in North Branch, Minnesota, shot and killed a woman.
The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the woman as Jamie Ann Crabtree, 36, of North Branch. She died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has also identified two North Branch police officers who used force during the incident. They are both on paid administrative leave.
According to the BCA, Kyle Miller used non-lethal force. He has a year and a half of law enforcement experience. Duane Southworth fired his department rifle. He has two years of law enforcement experience.
According to the agency, officers responded to an evening report of a woman, later identified as Crabtree, walking down the street with a bottle of alcohol and a firearm in a suitcase.
The officers ordered her to drop the gun case, which she did not acknowledge. Miller used PepperBall rounds. Crabtree is seen on the police car camera pointing an object at the officers. That is when Southworth fired his gun multiple times, hitting Crabtree.
She was pronounced dead by Lakes Region Emergency Medical Services, the BCA said.
BCA detectives found a handgun, a gun case and shotgun shells at the crime scene.
Parts of the incident were captured by police car cameras and the police car’s bodycam.
The BCA will review the video and investigate the incident. Once the investigation is complete, the agency will submit its findings to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office for review, without a recommendation for charges. Washington County is handling the case to avoid a conflict of interest with the Chicago County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to KSTP-TV, Crabtree’s husband called 911 and reported that his wife was drunk and suicidal. He also told KSTP that his wife suffered from mental illness and was known to North Branch police.
The BCA did not go into these details in its announcement on Wednesday.
