Man Convicted of Killing Officer Appeals to Supreme Court

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The man imprisoned for fatally shooting a Mendota Heights police officer and trying to kill the officers who arrested him is appealing his conviction.

Brian Fitch argues that he should have had two trials instead of one. Officer Scott Patrick was killed last year in West St. Paul. Fitch was arrested eight hours later in St. Paul following a shootout with officers.

The crimes took place in two different counties, but Fitch's trial was consolidated with a grand jury drawn from both Dakota and Ramsey counties. Reports say an appeal filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court Tuesday says the consolidation was unconstitutional because it violates Fitch's right to be tried in the county where the crime took place.

The 40-year-old officer was killed during a traffic stop on July 30, 2014.