MPD Officer Commits Suicide At Start Of Trial

In a statement, Mendota Heights police said the department is investigating “the suicide death” of Ngo, 37, after receiving a 911 call at 12:15p from the officer’s Mendota Heights home.

A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photojournalist at the scene of Ngo’s home reports police activity centered on the garage of the home. A car was seen being towed from the home.

Ngo won a $4.5 million settlement with the city of Minneapolis after being shot by mistake by a fellow officer with a sub-machine gun in Feb. 2003.

At a news conference to announce the settlement in 2007, Ngo told reporters that because of his wounds, he would never be able to conceive a child, play sports, or walk a beat.

“You can’t shoot an unarmed person who is kneeling on the ground, who is on their hands and knees, who – any person,” Ngo said at the time.

Ngo was set to testify Monday afternoon at the disorderly conduct trial of a woman charged with attacking Ngo and another off-duty officer in August 2009 in downtown Minneapolis. She has denied the allegations. Because of Ngo’s suicide, the trial was postponed. The woman has also sued Ngo, alleging battery and false arrest. That case has yet to go to trial.

Minneapolis Police Officer Ngo Duy