Charges: Walmart suspect pointed gun in officer’s face

Published 10:09 am Wednesday, June 24, 2015

ST. PAUL — Prosecutors say a Wisconsin man pointed a weapon inches from a police officer’s face in St. Paul last weekend.

Thirty-four-year-old James Frei of Tomah, Wisconsin, was charged Tuesday with possession of a firearm, second-degree assault and fleeing a police officer.

Police say Officer Michael Tschida was working off-duty at a Walmart Sunday and confronted Frei after suspecting he was shoplifting.

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Security camera footage shows Frei pointing a gun in Tschida’s face.

According to the complaint, Tschida slapped the gun away and drew his own weapon.

Frei ran to a pickup and pointed a gun at Tschida a second time.