Crime, Law and Justice

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit filed against second trooper by family of Ricky Cobb II

a woman holds a sign that reads justice for ricky
Nyra Fields-Miller, mother of Ricky T. Cobb II holds photos of Rick Cobb II during a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News 2024

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of a man fatally shot by a state trooper in Minneapolis.

Trooper Ryan Londregan fatally shot Ricky Cobb II in 2023 as he fled a traffic stop and knocked Londregan and trooper Brett Seide to the ground. The officers had tried to arrest the 33-year-old for allegedly violating a domestic violence protection order.

Cobb's mother Nyra Miller-Fields sued the troopers, alleging excessive force and that the extended traffic stop was unconstitutional.

In October, U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel dismissed the claims against Londregan.

This week she ruled similarly in Seide's favor, writing that body camera video shows that the trooper had probable cause to arrest Cobb.

Miller-Fields is appealing the decision.

In June, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty dropped murder charges against Londregan after conceding that she could not get a jury to convict him.