A progressive Minnesota prosecutor, elected on a platform of police accountability, has reluctantly dropped charges against a state trooper who fatally shot a Black man after a traffic stop. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stood by her initial decision to charge Trooper Ryan Londregan in the killing of Ricky Cobb II but cited new evidence that made the case difficult to prove.
Moriarty, a former chief public defender for the county, was elected in 2022 with nearly 58% of the vote. Her decision highlights the complexities of charging officers with crimes, even in the county where Derek Chauvin was convicted of George Floyd's murder.
The dismissal comes amid a trend of setbacks for progressive district attorneys and candidates in liberal strongholds across the country. In Oregon and San Francisco, similar shifts in prosecutorial approaches have occurred.
Gov. Tim Walz supported Moriarty's decision, stating that problems in the prosecution were evident from the beginning. He denied interfering in the case but indicated he would have taken action if charges were not dropped.
The State Patrol Association criticized Moriarty's decision, calling her statements 'unhinged.' Republican politicians echoed these sentiments, arguing that Londregan should never have been charged.
The incident occurred during a traffic stop on Interstate 94, where Trooper Londregan fatally shot Cobb. New evidence, including a defense claim that Cobb was reaching for Londregan's gun and statements from State Patrol officials supporting Londregan's actions, led to the charges being dropped.
Moriarty emphasized the need for changes in police procedures to reduce the use of deadly force. The State Patrol has not responded to her recommendations due to an ongoing lawsuit filed by Cobb's family.
Attorneys for Cobb's family expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating that the decision to drop charges was influenced by political pressure. They maintain that the shooting was unjustified and criticize the handling of the case.
