The St. Paul police officer injured in a life-and-death struggle with one of two suspects involved in the ambush slaying of Maplewood Police Sgt. Joe Bergeron on Saturday morning is home recovering from head injuries.
David Longbehn, a 25-year-veteran of the force who was manning his post on a perimeter near the corner of Ivy and Prosperity avenues on St. Paul's East Side, was jumped by Jason J. Jones, 21, who beat the officer with a heavy metal object wrapped in a cloth or sock. After being momentarily stunned, said St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington, Longbehn was able to get to his feet and shoot Jones dead.
Harrington, at a press briefing Sunday morning, said Longbehn was in good spirits despite being beaten so badly that both of his eyes had swollen shut. He was treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul for a broken nose, a broken septum and a hairline fracture to a facial bone, Harrington said.
"It sounds like he has a hell of a headache," the chief added.
Harrington said investigators are still trying to piece together key elements of a spasm of violence that began at 6:45 a.m. Saturday when Bergeron, responding to a carjacking call, was gunned down as he was getting out of his patrol car near English Street and Arlington Avenue by Jones and Joshua M. Martin, also 21.
After Jones was killed just before 11 a.m. after police from across the Twin Cities had arrived to set up a huge perimeter and launched an intensive manhunt, Martin was found at an apartment complex at 1032 Duluth St., and surrendered at about 1:30 p.m. after a one-hour standoff.
Harrington said two relatives or friends of Martin's are being questioned for their role in helping him elude police and get to the apartment building. If they knew Martin was a suspect being sought by police, they could be charged.
Martin is expected to be charged Monday in Ramsey County District Court. Investigators and prosecutors were meeting Sunday to review the case and the evidence against Martin, Harrington said. "At this time, it is still inconclusive as to whether or not he was the person who fired the fatal shot killing Sgt. Bergeron," Harrington said. Martin's discussions with investigators will be matched up with forensic evidence such as ballistics tests, along with witness accounts to determine the charges.
Among those witnesses to be questioned will be Longbehn, who is on a standard three-day leave, Harrington said.
Police recovered a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun in the search area, he added. Tests will determine if it was the murder weapon, and police were still scourtring the area to make sure there wasn't a second gun involved.
Funeral arrangements for Bergeron, a beloved officer who served in Maplewood for 26 years, have not been set, said Maplewood Police Chief Dave Thomalla.
Longbehn stood alone on a shady street near Lake Phalen on Saturday morning, one of hundreds on high alert during a tense hunt for two ex-cons who three hours before had gunned down a Maplewood officer in cold blood.
When a young man emerged from the woods behind him carrying a metal toolbox, Longbehn approached to question him.
Suddenly, the man attacked Longbehn and the two grappled on the ground. The attacker straddled the officer and hit him over and over again, breaking his nose and possibly the bones around both eyes. Finally able to reach his weapon, Longbehn pulled the trigger several times.
Jones, the man suspected of killing Maplewood Sgt. Joseph Bergeron -- an ex-con whose recent prison stint was for a double shooting -- collapsed onto E. Ivy Avenue.
Just seven weeks ago, Jones had walked out of St. Cloud prison after serving 27 months for first-degree aggravated robbery in which two people were shot, though an assault-with-a-dangerous-weapon charge was dropped in a plea bargain, according to police and public records. He was on supervised release, and the Corrections Department had him listed as a "Wanted Fugitive" on its website Saturday.
Police said he had an extensive criminal record as a juvenile, including robbery, stabbing a female, theft and alcohol and drug offenses.
