Ruling: Cop Can Be Sued For Stolen Squad Car's Role In Fatal Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A Crookston, Minnesota, police officer whose stolen squad car was involved in a fatal crash in 2011 is now facing a civil lawsuit.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision that officer Don Rasicot is not immune to a lawsuit, because he left his squad car unlocked and unattended, with the engine running, "in violation of city ordinance and police department policy."

In September 2011, 23-year-old Ricardo Mello stole Rasicot's car after being tasered and pepper sprayed.

After driving for five blocks, Mello collided with a pickup truck, killing Eddie Briggs, 78 of Thief River Falls.

Mello pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2012

Briggs's wife, Patricia, was injured in the crash.

The Court of Appeals ruled that Patricia Briggs has standing to sue Rasicot and the Crookston Police Department.