Officer Involved Shooting Phillips County, December 28, 2020

On the evening of December 28, 2020, Officer 1 and Officer 2 attempted to contact a vehicle driven by Anthony Hansen. Hansen had active warrants for his arrest on multiple charges, including charges of Distribution of a Controlled Substance. Hansen fled from officers in his vehicle, even driving across and through snowy fields. Hansen’s vehicle finally became bogged down in a snowy creek bed. When the officers approached the vehicle, Hansen did not exit and continued to attempt to drive away. Officer 1 then broke the driver side window, at which point Hansen pointed a handgun first at one officer then the other. At that point, both officers’ lives were in immediate danger from Hansen and they both fired, with multiple shots striking Hansen. Despite officers providing medical care to Hansen, he succumbed to his wounds and died on scene.

After investigating and reviewing the relevant facts and measuring them against the law, it was determined that the use of deadly force by Officer 1 and Officer 2 was clearly justified.