Prosecutor in police shooting case to enter alcohol program

MINNEAPOLIS – The prosecutor whose office won a recent conviction in the high-profile case of a Minneapolis police officer who killed an unarmed woman says he will be entering a treatment program for alcohol issues.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued a statement Friday saying he was evaluated for alcohol issues and agrees he needs treatment. He’ll be entering a program Monday.

Freeman announced last week that he was taking a medical leave, but didn’t say why.

His Friday statement says he has also worked to stabilize his “unacceptably high blood pressure.” He says he’s determined to reclaim his health and hopes to be back to work in mid-June.

Last month, a jury convicted Mohamed Noor of murder in the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who called 911 to report a possible crime.