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It was a somber day for the family of slain Mendota Heights Police Officer Scott Patrick. Today would have been Officer Patrick's 48th birthday. Instead, his friends and loved ones spent the day in court at Brian Fitch's first-degree murder trial in St. Cloud, Minn.
Fitch is charged with gunning down the veteran officer and father of two during a routine traffic stop in West St. Paul. Testimony on Monday focused on the shootout Fitch got into with police before he was taken into custody the night of July 30.
"This is melancholy, in a way, because Scott had a life worth celebrating," his half brother, Mike Brue, said. "Even in this tragedy, you can't take away from the life he lived."
The family said they plan to get away from court to have a celebratory drink for Officer Patrick.