Officer’s Shooting of Man Ruled Accidental
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A Rochester police officer who thought he was using a stun gun to subdue a suspect mistakenly fired a bullet into the man’s back, investigators said.
The victim, Christofar Atak, was listed in fair condition.
An investigation into the Sept. 2 shooting found that Greg Siem thought he was holding a stun gun, Police Chief Roger Peterson said.
The stun guns used by Rochester police look like handguns. They use an electric shock to temporarily incapacitate a person.
Atak, a refugee from civil war in Sudan, was drunk and acting violently at the time, police said.
Peterson said he spoke with Atak to apologize and explain the findings of the investigation.
Peterson said Siem and a second officer on leave since the shooting will return to work.
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