WILLMAR -- The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have released several details related to the Nov. 14 shooting incident involving Atwater Police Chief Reed Schmidt and Brian R. Detlefsen, 23, of Atwater.
According to a news release from Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog, the investigation has revealed that Schmidt was on routine patrol on Washington Avenue around 9:10 p.m. that night.
While heading westbound, Schmidt's patrol car passed a minivan driven by Detlefsen, who proceeded to make a U-turn and follow Schmidt as he turned south onto Sixth Street.
Detlefsen then rammed his vehicle into Schmidt's car and pushed it for a block before Schmidt was able to stop the vehicle at the intersection of Montana Avenue and Fifth Street, the release states. Detlefsen then rushed to the police chief's car door and assaulted Schmidt as he was trying to get out of the vehicle. The release states the fight continued until Schmidt discharged his weapon, wounding Detlefsen in the abdomen.
As of Friday, Detlefsen was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit of Hennepin County Medical Center. Schmidt was hospitalized at Rice Memorial for two days after the incident. He underwent exploratory surgery on Nov. 17 for a ruptured eyeball and a severed muscle. It is unknown if the police chief has suffered any permanent vision loss, the release states.
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Schmidt's K-9 partner, Max, was in the vehicle and was also injured. The 9-year-old Australian shepherd police dog was treated for a sprained leg. Paul Schmidt is currently acting as Atwater police chief while his father recuperates.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
