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Police investigate patient death at Richfield care facility
In a search warrant application, Richfield police detail reports by first responders alleging a slow staff response and allegations of forged documents in the death.
RICHFIELD, Minn. — A Richfield care facility is under investigation after allegations by first responders that staff there did not check on a patient as she was dying and then forged paperwork to cover it up.
In an application for a search warrant, police requested access to medical records and surveillance video related to the treatment and death of 55-year-old Candace Columbus, a patient at The Villas in Richfield. Investigator Sammy Gonzalez details a report by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) based on accounts from a Hennepin County paramedic on Oct. 7, 2024, the day Columbus died at the facility located at 7727 Portland Ave. S.
That paramedic reported that they suspected that facility staff suspected the patient was dying but did not check on her or call 911. The first responder said that when first responders were finally called, staffers claimed that Columbus had a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) but did not have a form on hand. Paramedics also reported seeing staff members filling out a DNR Form, which would constitute forgery.
Investigator Gonzalez says in the warrant application that body cam video from a Richfield police officer who responded to The Villas recorded the interaction between the reporting paramedic and care staff, including a phone conversation between one employee and someone claiming to be the facility manager, who appears to be giving the staff instructions on how to fill out the DNR form.
“Your affiant (Gonzalez) requests further information from The Villas at Richfield that will lead to further evidence of forgery and/or vulnerable adult abuse/neglect,” the application reads.
Richfield Police Lt. Brad Drayna told KARE 11 that the ongoing investigation prevents the department from providing anything beyond the information in the search warrant. An administrator for The Villas says a statement on the patient’s death and investigation will be released later Wednesday.
The BCA says all six officers are on critical incident leave.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Four officers fired guns and two shot “less lethal” rounds after officials say a man pointed a gun at officers Monday evening in St. Paul.
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the incident was captured on body cameras, dash cameras and nearby security cameras, but those videos have not yet been released to the public.
The BCA said the man, later identified as 40-year-old Earl Bennett, was shot by St. Paul Police officers after he pointed a gun at police during a confrontation Monday night near Allianz Field.
Officers Shawn Marlowe, Chase Robinson, Blake Steffen and Sergeant Lamichael Shead all fired their weapons, while Officers Austin Borowicz and Peov Suon fired “less lethal” rounds, according to the BCA. Officers Marlowe and Robinson have each been in law enforcement for 10 years; Officer Shead has been in law enforcement for eight; Officer Steffen has four years of law enforcement experience and Officers Suon and Borowicz had three. The BCA says all six officers are on critical incident leave.
Bennett was transported to Regions Hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.
Minneapolis Police say Bennett was a suspect in two shootings since Sunday. Officers say the first shooting occurred Sunday afternoon when three people were shot at an encampment on the 4400 block of Snelling Avenue. Two of the victims died and one was taken to HCMC with life-threatening injuries. Bennett has not been officially charged in Sunday’s shooting.
However, according to court documents, Bennett is charged with first-degree attempted murder in connection to a second shooting after he allegedly shot another man in the neck inside a sober living facility on the 3500 block of Columbus Avenue Monday evening. The victim was transported to a hospital and is in critical condition.
Later that night, police were called to the 400 block of Pierce Street in St. Paul just before 7:45 p.m. on reports of shots being fired in the area. When police arrived, they found a man walking around the area with a gun. At one point, when police approached the man, he put the gun to his own head, according to St. Paul police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster.
Police began to negotiate with the man for a peaceful surrender, but he reportedly refused to drop the weapon and started walking in the middle of traffic on Snelling Avenue. Court documents say Bennett stopped in the middle of light rail tracks, and officers fired “non-lethal” rubber balls at him. Bennett then pointed the gun at police, according to charging documents, and officers responded by firing their weapons. Police recovered an unloaded 9mm handgun at the scene that prosecutors say was tied to the casings fired in Sunday’s double fatal shooting.
Bennett was charged Tuesday in Ramsey County with illegally possessing a firearm and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
Criminal charges were dropped this summer after the Hennepin County Attorney said there was new evidence that prevented her from establishing reasonable doubt.
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal civil case against Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan, who fatally shot Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop in 2023, has been dismissed.
Cobb was pulled over on I-94 in Minneapolis for driving at night without headlights on. Londregan and other troopers approached Cobb’s car after learning he was wanted for violating a domestic no-contact order in Ramsey County.
Troopers ordered Cobb out of the car but he started to drive away, and Londregan shot the man twice. Londregan claimed he feared for the life of his partner, and said Cobb was reaching for his state-issued pistol.
In April 2024, Cobb’s family and attorneys said the traffic stop that led to Cobb’s death was unjustified and unlawful. They argued Cobb’s civil rights were violated by Londregan and another State Tropper, Brett Seide, when they “unreasonably seized” and “used excessive force” against him.
On Wednesday in federal court, a civil suit against Londregan was dismissed, with the court saying “Under this law the Court cannot conclude that Londregan violated a clearly established right when he made the decision to shoot Cobb.”
Londregan was cleared of second-degree murder charges in June 2024. The State Patrol confirmed in August he was being assigned to the West Metro District in Golden Valley after completing additional required training.
David Beckett pled guilty to 3rd degree assault in November for assaulting then 65-year-old Mark Henderson.
HASTINGS, Minn. — The man convicted of 3rd degree assault for beating someone outside a Lakeville Walmart in October 2021, was sentenced to 120 days in jail and three years probation on Wednesday.
63-year-old David Beckett pled guilty in November to assaulting 68-year-old Mark Henderson, and breaking his femur. The incident began when Beckett followed Henderson on I-35, near County Road 70 after he felt he cut him off. Beckett followed Henderson to the Walmart, where after verbal threats, Beckett attacked him.
Henderson’s wife Sharon spoke on his behalf Wednesday in the courtroom.
“The nine days I spent in the hospital were filled with pain and uncertainty,” Sharon read. “I underwent surgery resulting in two rods and six screws that are now permanently in my body.”
Sharon says the funny, joyful man she once knew is now a shadow of himself.
“I hope to move past this anger one day, but for now, it feels as though Mr. Beckett has stolen precious years we should have enjoyed together,” Sharon said.
Beckett apologized to the victim and his family today in court, as the severity of his action sat a few feet away from him.
“I really regret that day,” Beckett said. I am not a violent, malicious man. I am a Christian, but I’m a sinful man.”
The judge also ordered Beckett to continue paying restitution for three years, but he felt Beckett was not a threat to re-offend given no prior criminal history. He added that he believed Beckett did a terrible thing, but is not a bad man.
