BCA identifies deputies who used force during Minnetonka incident

ST. PAUL — The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man killed during a use-of-force incident April 10 in Minnetonka. According to the medical examiner, Clint Hoyhtya, 28, of Minnetonka died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified four Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies who discharged their firearms during this incident. They are all currently on standard administrative leave.

• Christopher Heihn fired his department rifle. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.

• Tyler Jacob fired his department rifle. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.

• Keith McNamara fired his department rifle. He has 23 years of law enforcement experience.

• Steven Tomasko fired his department handgun. He has 15 years of law enforcement experience.

According to the preliminary investigation, deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Minnetonka and South Lake Minnetonka police departments went to a home in Minnetonka to arrest a person wanted for multiple felonies. The warrant was not for Hoyhtya, but for another person who lives at that address. When the deputies knocked on the front door and announced themselves, Hoyhyta started shooting at them with an assault-style rifle. The deputies returned fire and backed away to set up a perimeter. Hoyhtya was wearing a tactical vest with ballistic plates during the shooting but was fatally struck by the deputies’ gunfire and died at the scene.

Deputies Heihn and McNamara were also injured during the incident. McNamara was struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene. Heihn was shot multiple times, taken to HCMC for treatment and has since been released.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered an assault rifle and dozens of cartridge casings at the scene. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras. BCA agents are reviewing all available video as part of the active investigation.

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