Officer’s Killer Gets Life Without Parole

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) — A man accused of killing a police officer in southeastern Minnesota has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Uniformed officers and dozens of others packed into a Dakota County courtroom Wednesday morning where Brian Fitch Sr., was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was found guilty Monday of fatally shooting Scott Patrick, a 47-year-old Mendota Heights officer who had stopped Fitch last July in West St. Paul.

Fitch, with his hands bound, maintained his innocence before he was sentenced. The Star Tribune says Fitch was also sentenced to 216 months for each of three attempted murder charges. He was convicted of shooting at three St. Paul police officers who arrested him.