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MPR News Staff

Trial of accused cop killer Fitch moved to St. Cloud

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Brian George Fitch
Brian Fitch
Courtesy Minnesota Dept. of Corrections

Brian Fitch, the man accused of killing a Mendota Heights police officer, will face trial in St. Cloud, not Dakota County.

• Previously: Fitch indicted in murder of police officer

Citing extensive media coverage in the Twin Cities, a Dakota County judge on Tuesday agreed to transfer the case to Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud.

News reports quoting the charges that Fitch allegedly admitted to the killing and "hated cops" creates a "reasonable likelihood" that a fair trial can't be held in Dakota County, Judge Mary Theisen wrote in her order.

Theisen also noted that a public opinion poll commissioned by Fitch's defense attorneys found that 91 percent of Dakota County residents surveyed knew of Patrick's death, 83 percent believed Fitch was guilty or "probably guilty" and 31 percent said Fitch had made some type of admission in the case.

Fitch pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting Officer Scott Patrick during a July 30 traffic stop in West St. Paul. A grand jury indicted Fitch on first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder tied to a shootout with officers who ultimately captured him in St. Paul.

While the people of Dakota County "would do their utmost, if summoned, to sit fairly and impartially as jurors," it would "difficult if not nearly impossible" to pull together a fair and impartial jury in the county given the coverage and opinions, Theisen wrote.

Jury selection for Fitch's trial is expected to begin Jan. 12 in St. Cloud, according to the court order. A pretrial hearing is still set for Dec. 16 in Dakota County.