MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan will appear in court Monday morning. Londregan is charged with murder after fatally shooting Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop in Minneapolis last July.
The appearance is set just days after more news broke in the case.
KARE 11's Lou Raguse confirmed through sources that the lead prosecutor, Joshua Larson, asked to be removed from the case. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office won't confirm or deny but told KARE 11 in a statement, "As we continue to prepare this case for trial, we are assembling a new prosecution team to handle what is an extraordinarily resource intensive case that will involve extensive litigation prior to trial. While this case continues we must also maintain the critical work of prosecuting the high volume of other serious cases that are central to the safety of our community."
Larson was part of the teams successful in prosecuting former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter and ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
In a statement to KARE 11, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) Executive Director Brian Peters said, "Moriarty's office – from the start – has been a disaster and disservice to justice for those in Hennepin County, and for law enforcement. Experts, law enforcement trainers agree: Trooper Londregan was unjustly charged and indeed acted in accordance with his legal responsibilities."
Londregan is charged with second degree unintentional murder, first degree assault and second degree manslaughter after shooting and killing Cobb.
The shooting happened after Cobb was pulled over on I-94 in Minneapolis last July for driving without taillights.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said troopers learned Cobb was wanted in Ramsey County for violating a standing domestic order for protection.
Body camera video released by DPS shows troopers trying to detain Cobb. As the trooper at the driver's side went to unbuckle Cobb's seatbelt, the video shows Cobb's hand moving toward the gear-shifter and Londregan firing from the open passenger door as the car lurches forward.
Since then, the case continues to make headlines.
In March, court filings showed the HCAO stopped consulting with expert witness Jeffrey Noble after he told them the trooper's use of force was reasonable. The HCAO rebutted, saying the defense selectively quoted a partial sentence of a lengthy document. The two-page report shows Noble refrained from offering an ultimate opinion on whether deadly force was necessary.
Monday, the defense will argue for the judge to dismiss the charges for lack of probable cause. A rally is planned, in support of Londregan, outside the Hennepin County Government Center at 8 a.m. on Monday.
In regards to a new prosecution team, Peters with the MPPOA said, "This latest news shows, once again, how this case should never have been charged. It's past time to reassign this case away from Moriarty to best serve a fair and honest judicial system – and not an unjust prosecution. Governor – for the sake of fairness and for the sake of our public safety and judicial system – transfer this case away from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office."
A spokesperson for Gov. Tim Walz told KARE 11, "We can't speak to the county attorney's reasons for seeking outside counsel, but it raises questions about the approach she has taken in this case. The Governor will continue to monitor the case and has not closed the door to reassigning it."
Separately, Cobb's family recently filed a federal lawsuit against the state troopers involved in the case. The lawsuit states that Londregan and Brett Seide violated Cobb's civil rights when they "unreasonably seized" and "used excessive force" after pulling him over.
Octavia Ruffin, Cobb's sister, said during a press conference earlier in April, "We are seeking justice not only for Ricky Cobb II but for our community, for our people, for just everyone."
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