Minnesota BCA: Driver killed in 'use-of-force incident' on I-94 during traffic stop

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Family members have identified the man killed by law enforcement after a traffic stop on Interstate 94 near 42nd Avenue North early Monday morning as Ricky Cobb II. Police sources have told FOX 9 officers were seeking to detain him for violating a protection order. 

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the incident happened around 1:50 a.m. Monday morning when the State Patrol pulled over a driver — Cobb — with no taillights on I-94 near Dowling Avenue. At that point, the State Patrol says they discovered the driver was wanted on a felony-level warrant out of Ramsey County and attempted to detain him. Authorities said Cobb refused to get out of his car and as deputies attempted to remove him, he fled.

DPS says at that point a trooper shot Cobb. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the suspect later died.

Video from traffic cameras in the area shows the driver slowly driving off and a short chase ensuing. When traffic cameras are able to find the driver again it shows him pinned against the median by a State Patrol squad car. 

DPS says they are working to release body camera footage of the incident. 

Danielle Pickett says Cobb was the father of her sons, who are 8 and 10 years old. 

"I don't want anybody to be able to spin a story to make him seem like he was a bad person. He was trying so hard to pull his life together and be a better person," she said, struggling to hold back tears. "He was working, spending time with our kids. He had a good heart and really was not a bad person. And he didn't deserve this."