Man kills himself after wounding officer

Published 5:42 pm Saturday, January 30, 2016

OAKDALE — Police said an Oakdale man killed himself after an exchange of gunfire with officers who had come to search his home.

The St. Paul Police Department is investigating the incident, in which an Oakdale police officer was shot in the arm.

Oakdale officers and a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent went to the home of 53-year-old Mark Kuzel on Thursday. They entered after knocking at the door and getting no response.

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Police said Kuzel was inside and shot one of the Oakdale officers. Another Oakdale officer returned fire before the team retreated and tried talking to Kuzel.

But Friday’s update said Kuzel said he didn’t want to go to jail. Officers heard a single gunshot, and found him with one wound to the head. Kuzel died later at Regions Hospital.