Although Officer Tom Decker was laid to rest on Wednesday, the community of Cold Spring is still looking for closure as investigators continue to look for his killer.
Beneath the surface in the dark alleys, there may be a seedier side to the small town. Just last summer, wooden pallets hid 20 bags of cocaine containing 16 pounds worth $700,000 were found behind the Cold Spring Brewing Company. It was the largest drug seizure ever made in central Minnesota.
Many are now wondering whether Decker may have stumbled upon something sinister behind Winner's Bar -- something other than Ryan Larson, who told FOX 9 News he met officer "Tommy" Decker a few times, but not that fateful night. He says he was asleep, never heard the shots, and worries for his community with a killer at large.
Police dispatch transcripts obtained by FOX 9 show a chaotic scene in the aftermath of the killing:
10:48 p.m.: Decker's partner, in a separate squad, radioed in "officer down" before quickly adding, "I have no idea where the suspect went." Immediately, dispatch put out a description of Ryan Larson after receiving reports from his family that he may be suicidal.
11:10 p.m.: There's confusion about what to do with the crowd inside Winner's bar. An officer says, "See if there is anyone else in the bar. There are a bunch of people standing outside." Another officer then replies, "I told them to leave at this point." Since some of them could have been witnesses -- even a potential killer, dispatch then replied, "If you do get a hold of them, have them walk out with their hands up."
11:10 p.m.: At around the same time, dispatch advised there was a vehicle that sped away shortly after the shooting -- but no one got a license plate number.
11:44 p.m.: A possible suspect was located just two blocks away. Dispatch told the helicopter, "There's a group approaching a male just slightly at your tail, directly below you with K-9. They're taking him at gunpoint. We don't know who it is at this point. You can light him up if you like." Next, a squad says, "Everybody hold tight. I don't' think -- everybody hold tight."
At that moment, police also discovered Larson in his apartment above the crime scene and arrested them -- but they still have not found the murder weapon.
When Larson spoke with FOX 9 News by phone, he said he is unequivocally innocent. He kept the conversation brief, insisting that the focus of the day should be given to the fallen hero to honor his ultimate sacrifice -- but the bitter reality is, it's not yet clear why he had to die.
