Sword-Wielding Man Refused To Comply Before Officers Shot Him: BCA

NORTH BRANCH, MN — A sword-wielding man was shot by police in North Branch Friday night after he refused to comply with their orders, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Authorities identified the man as 31-year-old Erik Hammer. Hammer is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds and is expected to survive, the BCA said.

The BCA said two officers and one deputy fired at Hammer, and they have been put on standard administrative leave:

• North Branch Officer Tyler Lawson fired his patrol rifle
  • Lawson has about four-and-a-half years of law enforcement experience
• North Branch Officer Kyle Lund fired his patrol rifle
  • Lund has about three-and-a-half years of law enforcement experience.
• Chisago County Sgt. James Mott fired "less-than-lethal rounds."
  • Mott has 15 years of law enforcement experience.

Just before 10 p.m. on Friday, authorities responded to the 6600 block of Oak Ridge Court on reports of a suicidal man.

They found Hammer in the driveway of a home armed with a sword, according to the BCA.

From the road, officers ordered him to drop the sword several times, investigators said.

Hammer refused and started walking down the driveway toward the officers with the sword in his hand, according to the BCA.

Sgt. Mott and officers Lawson and Lund fired and hit Hammer, authorities said.

Officers treated Hammer until an ambulance arrived and took him to a hospital, according to investigators.

The BCA said its crime scene personnel recovered a sword at the scene, and that it is reviewing body camera footage "to determine the exact timing of when each responding officer fired at Hammer."

To avoid a potential conflict of interest, the Chisago County Attorney’s Office has referred the case to the Isanti County Attorney. When complete, the BCA will hand its investigation over to the Isanti County Attorney’s Office for review.