Minneapolis, MN
Sler Tribune- Slale Ed.
MlnnlOpon.-St, Paul
Mil ArlO

050,192

Saturday

SEP 14. 2002

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m[J1r1(BPRESS CLIPPINGS

BCA: ,Gun mixup led
to man's beil1g shot
by Roehester officer
.Stun gun was intended weapon
Associated Press

ready.
William L. French, an attorney hired by Atak's family,
declined to comment Friday
on the results of the BCA in'vestigation. French said he
and another attorney, Steven
Fuller, will do their own in.
vestigation.
Atak, 31; is a refugee from
Sudan.
.
The police .chief said Siem
and officer Doug Remling re'
spoildedthe evening of Sept
2 to a report of an intoXicated
man fighting and damaging
property.

ROCHESTER - ARochester police officer'thought he
was using a stun gun when he
fired a bullet into the back of
a man he ~ trying to subdue, the state Bureau of
Crintinal Apprehension has
concluded.
.
Rochester Police Chief
Roger Peterson said the BCA
investigation found that officer Greg Siem, a.six-year veteran with. the department,
~ trying to subdue Christofar Atak on· Sept. 2· when he
accidentally used his' handP&e~onsaidRemling~
gun instead of his Taser, a trying unsuccessfully to renoulethal device that uses an strain Atak, and Siem became
electric shock to'incapacitate involved in the scuffle. Both
ape~on.
office~ told Atak an estimatPeterson said Siem shot ed 10 times to place his hands
Atak once, then dropped his on the squad car. The chief
. pistol and called for medical said that each time.the officers tried to handcuff Atak,
help.
Atak was listed in fair con- the man fought back.
dition Friday at St Marys
Siem grabbed what he
Hospital. Peterson said he thought was the Taser, Peterspoke Th=day with Atak to son said. Instead, he had
explain the BCA's findings grabbed his handgun, with
and formally apologize.
which he shotAtak once.
He said both office~, who
The Taser was found on
have. been on'administrative the ground near· the squad
leave since the shooting, can cars:
return to work when they are