BCA identifies man, officer involved in St. Paul force incident

ST. PAUL — The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the man a St. Paul police officer shot during a police response on Jan. 6 in St. Paul. Brett Kohl Fraser, 31, of St. Paul was shot once. The BCA is actively investigating this incident.

The BCA has also identified the St. Paul police officer who used force during this incident.

• Officer Josh Needham fired his department handgun. He has 11 years of law enforcement experience and is on standard administrative leave.

According to the preliminary investigation, just after midnight on Jan. 6, St. Paul police responded to an apartment on the 400 block of Thomas Avenue on reports of a man physically and sexually assaulting a woman. The caller also reported the man was armed with a handgun. When they arrived, the officers knocked on the door and identified themselves. The woman safely left the apartment. After officers ordered him to come out of the apartment, Fraser ran out into a small hallway where the officers were standing. Needham fired three rounds at Fraser, striking him in the arm. The officers gave Fraser medical care until an ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital for treatment. He has since been released from the hospital and taken into custody.

Crime scene personnel recovered a replica handgun inside a backpack in the apartment, although it’s unclear to whom the replica belongs. The officers were wearing body cameras during the incident. BCA agents are reviewing that video as they continue to investigate this incident.

The St. Paul Police Department asked the BCA to investigate this incident. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without a charging recommendation to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for review.