Jury Selection Begins Today in St. Cloud for Man Accused of Killing Police Officer

ST. CLOUD (AP) - Defense attorneys will be looking for jurors in Stearns County who are impartial to Brian Fitch, the man accused of killing a police officer in Dakota County.

Jury selection begins Monday in St. Cloud.

A survey commissioned by Fitch's attorneys found 83 percent of 265 potential jurors in Dakota County thought the defendant was probably or definitely guilty. Nearly every respondent had a negative opinion of Fitch. That's why the trial has been moved to Stearns County.

The 40-year-old Fitch is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Mendota Heights Officer Scott Patrick. The 47-year-old officer was killed during a traffic stop in West St. Paul last July. Fitch is also accused of firing at officers who were trying to arrest him later that day.