Authorities ID Suspect Shot in Yellow Medicine County Incident

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the man shot by law enforcement during a standoff incident that began on Sept. 14 and spanned into Sept. 15 in two locations in and near Clarkfield.

Officials say 27-year-old Kasey Paul Willander of Clarkfield is hospitalized in stable condition at HCMC. He is expected to survive.

No one else was injured during the incident.

Law enforcement personnel who used force during the incident have also been identified.

• Big Stone County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Lamee discharged his firearm. Deputy Lamee has been in law enforcement for 10 years. He is on standard critical incident leave.
• A Meeker County sheriff’s deputy discharged a firearm. The sheriff’s office confirmed that the deputy works undercover and so the BCA is withholding the deputy’s name in accordance with Minnesota Statute 13.82, subdivision 17 (a). The deputy is on standard critical incident leave.
• Willmar Police Department Sergeant Ross Livingood fired less-lethal 40 mm rounds during the incident. He has been in law enforcement for 18 years.
• Glenwood Police Department Officer Steve Nagel fired less-lethal 40 mm rounds during the incident. He has been in law enforcement for 13 years.
• Big Stone County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Darrell Thompson fired less-lethal 40 mm rounds during the incident. He has been in law enforcement for 13 years.
• Redwood County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mitch Zimmerman fired less-lethal 40 mm rounds during the incident. He has been in law enforcement for 11 years.
• Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tim Oster fired non-lethal pepper ball rounds. He has been in law enforcement for three years.
• Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ryan Schutz fired non-lethal pepper ball rounds. He has been in law enforcement for 10 years.

The BCA is investigating the law enforcement use of force.

The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the other events related to this incident.

As part of its investigation, the BCA will review body camera and other available footage which captured portions of the incident. BCA crime scene personnel recovered two firearms from outside of the home, near where Willander was taken into custody.

The BCA investigation is in its early stages.

Once the investigation is complete the BCA will provide its findings without a charging recommendation to the Yellow Medicine County Attorney’s Office for review.