Police Officer Ryan Andrew Bialke

Officer: Red Lake Nation Police Department, Police Officer Ryan Andrew Bialke

Date: 7/27/2021          Location: Redby, MN             FACTORS (1,2,4,5,15,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: David Donnell Jr.

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Donnell had an active warrant from a previous crime./Yes, Donnell resisted arrest and shot at the officers.

Mental Illness: Yes, Donnell’s girlfriend’s statement that he was suicidal prompted her mother to call 911.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/28

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? On July 27, 2021, five Red Lake Nation Police Officers responded to a 911 call of a suicidal male in a house. Upon arrival the officers found David Donnell Jr. on the porch, discovered he had an active warrant and told him to walk to them.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Instead of complying with the officers’ lawful orders, Donnell ran back into his house. After trying to get Donnell to come back out, the officers decided to enter by force and Officer Ryan Bialke kicked the door in. As soon as his front door was broken down, Donnell shot at the officers, fatally injuring Officer Bialke before fleeing the house on foot.

Reactions by the police: Officers returned fire, rendered medical attention to Officer Bialke and then chased after Donnell, capturing him shortly after in a nearby house.

How murdered? Officer Bialke was fatally shot while making entry into a house with a wanted subject who was also suicidal.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Since there was no report of a weapon involved, it was not unusual for the officers to make forceful entry to arrest a wanted subject whom they feared was suicidal and endangering the lives of children inside.

Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? N/A, since Officer Bialke was shot while breaking down the door, he likely never saw Donnell before being shot by him once Donnell was back inside his house.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Donnell faces charges of second-degree murder and four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.