Funeral For Fallen Mendota Heights Officer Is Aug. 6
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — Funeral services for a Mendota Heights police officer shot and killed while making a traffic stop earlier this week were announced Friday afternoon, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The funeral for Officer Scott Patrick will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in West St. Paul. A visitation for Patrick will be held at the church on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Prosecutors filed charges Friday against the man suspected of killing the officer, 39-year-old Brian Fitch Sr. He's been charged by the Dakota County Attorney's Office with first-degree murder of a peace officer and one count of premeditated first-degree murder. Fitch Sr. has also been charged by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office with three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in a drive-by shooting towards a person or occupied vehicle, three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a pistol or assault weapon.
Patrick was killed Wednesday during a traffic stop. Authorities arrested Fitch later that day after a manhunt. Fitch remained in serious condition Thursday with injuries he suffered during a shootout with police.
Authorities say they may never know the reason for the traffic stop.
Court records show Fitch was wanted because he left a drug treatment program — which he had asked to go instead of prison last year after he was convicted of terroristic threats and assault.
He also faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted on a separate drug charge.
A Scott Patrick Memorial Fund has been set up through Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. Donations can be made in person at any of the Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Branches, or via the following:
Phone: 651-291-3700
Mail: 175 West Lafayette Frontage Road, St. Paul, MN 55107
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