Officers injured in weekend shooting

Nick Hanson
Free Press Staff Writer

AMBOY December 26, 2006 12:25 am

— A rural Amboy domestic dispute resulted in a seven and 1/2 hour standoff that left two law enforcement officers injured and the suspect dead in an apparent suicide.
Mankato Police officer Robert Sadusky was in fair condition Monday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. The other officer injured, Chris Nelson of the St. Peter Police Department, was able to return home Sunday morning.
At 4 p.m. Saturday, police officers responded to a dispute between Jeff Skjervold, 41, and a woman at 52071 State Highway 30, about a mile west of Highway 169, said Brad Schultz, chief deputy of Blue Earth County. During a confrontation with Skjervold, police used a taser and left the scene.
A tactical response team returned to the residence. When they attempted to enter, Robert Sadusky, 37, of the Mankato police department and Chris Nelson, 44, of the St. Peter police department were both shot in the head, Schultz said.
“This could not have happened at a more terrible time than Christmas,” said Jerry Huettl, Mankato director of public safety.
Sadusky was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. He went through several hours of surgery during the night. Sunday morning he was updated from critical to serious condition, said Amy Reyes, Mayo Clinic spokeswoman.
During a Sunday news conference, officers said he is awake and speaking with family.
Nelson also sustained a head wound, but was able to return home Sunday morning. Police believe he survived because of a protective helmet.
After Sadusky and Nelson were injured, more officers were called to the scene. Negotiators made contact with Skjervold, and sometime in the early morning shot non-lethal gas into the residence.
A short time later, a single gun shot was heard from the residence. Skjervold was dead on the scene. Authorities believe it was a suicide.
The woman in the domestic dispute with Skjervold was not injured or involved in the standoff.
The incident sent a shock through the town of tiny town of Amboy, which has a population of about 550.
Vernon Center resident Bruce Kietzer said he used to work with Skjervold at an area hog farm couple a years ago.
“He was always fun to be around, he would tell jokes and stuff,” Kietzer said.
He remembers Skjervold talking about problems with his significant other when they worked together. “That can be rough on a person,” he said. “That can lead you to do something you wouldn’t normally do.”
At least 50 law enforcement officers remained at the scene throughout the night. A command post was set up at C&M Implement Inc. near the house. Firefighters and other rescue squads were also at the scene.
Emergency vehicles were traveling between the command post and the house throughout the night. Several Minnesota State Patrol troopers parked squad cars across State Highway 30 near the Highway 169 intersection. Troopers were stopping all vehicles and making them turn around.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is conducting a follow up investigation and expects to have more information available in coming weeks.

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