From [HERE] and [HERE] A federal judge Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against white Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a 2023 traffic stop.

The decision is the latest development in a case that has drawn heated debate over excessive use of force by law enforcement. Criminal charges against Londregan were dismissed by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in June, saying the prosecution didn’t have the evidence to proceed with a case.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel granted Londregan’s motion to dismiss the civil suit, arguing he acted reasonably when he opened fire as Cobb’s vehicle lurched forward with another state trooper partly inside.

The lawsuit accuses troopers of unreasonably seizing Cobb by ordering him out of his vehicle but refusing to explain whether he was under arrest or why he was being detained. It claims the force used in the seizure was excessive, unjustifiable and unlawful.

After Cobb was stopped for driving without taillights, troopers learned that he had been accused of violating a domestic order for protection. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office issued a 72-hour request for agencies to pick up and hold Cobb. The request, which is not a warrant but grants probable cause to detain, was set to expire later that morning. The order for protection was filed by one of the mothers of Cobb’s young children.

The lawsuit alleges that the troopers did not attempt to de-escalate the situation, and that they didn’t have reasonable suspicion that Cobb was armed or posed any threat of harm.

A gun was found on the floor behind the center console of Cobb’s vehicle, but the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has maintained that Cobb was never holding a gun. Troopers never made reference to seeing a gun in Cobb’s vehicle, according to dash and body-cam video.

Cobb’s hands were in the air in full view of the troopers in the moments leading up to the shooting, the lawsuit says. His hands weren’t touching the steering wheel or gear shift until Londregan reached inside the front passenger window to unlock the door. As he opened the door, Cobb put his foot on the brake and moved his hands to the shifter and put the vehicle into drive, removing his foot from the brake. Cobb’s vehicle moved forward several feet while Seide, on the drivers side, leaned in to unsecure Cobb’s seatbelt. Cobb stepped on the brake and Londregan drew his firearm, pointing it at Cobb.

Londregan leaned his torso inside, gun drawn, and yelled at Cobb to get out. Seide grabbed at Cobb, who took his foot off the brake again, causing the vehicle to lurch forward, according to the lawsuit. Londregan fired and Cobb’s vehicle proceeded down the interstate for one-quarter of a mile until it crashed into a concrete median, the suit says.

As a direct result of the troopers’ wrongful acts and omissions, the suit adds, Cobb’s family suffered financial losses in an amount to be determined by a jury.

“At the time of this incident, Decedent Cobb was an unarmed man stopped for a minor traffic violation, had no outstanding warrants and was not threatening or acting violently towards the officers on scene,” the lawsuit says. “Nevertheless, Defendant Seide attempted to wrestle Decedent Cobb out of the vehicle and Defendant Londregan drew his firearm on Decedent Cobb and shot him almost immediately, even with Defendant Seide positioned in a leaning posture over Decedent Cobb in his front seat.” [MORE]

In her decision, Brasel said the troopers were mandated by state law to make an arrest given Cobb’s domestic no-contact order violation. She said it was objectively reasonable for Londregan to believe Seide was in immediate danger as the car moved forward on a busy highway, which would make his use of force reasonable.