Suspect in Murder of Cold Spring Police Officer Released From Custody

Ryan Michael Larson, the man arrested on suspicion of shooting Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker, was released from Stearns County jail this afternoon with insufficient evidence to charge Larson, reported the Star Tribune today.

According to an Associated Press report posted on abcnews.com, investigation into the killing of 31-year-old Officer Tom Decker in Cold Spring continues. Authorities were still looking for the 20-gauge shotgun that is believed to be the murder weapon, officials said.

St. Michael Patch is awaiting information on whether Wright County Sheriff’s deputies assisted Stearns County Sheriffs the night of the murder. However, police scanner reports during the search said departments for miles around Stearns County assisted with the search. Cold Spring is about 48 miles northwest of Albertville.

Decker's body was taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy, and on Friday, a caravan of police vehicles with lights flashing and sirens sounding went through St. Michael and Albertville on Interstate 94 as they escorted his body home.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said in a news release, according to the Associated Press, that prosecutors did not have "sufficient documented evidence" to continue to hold Larson on suspicion of second-degree murder charges.

"Our agencies have reviewed the investigative data collected thus far and must act within the time allotted by law, within the constraints of the law, and based upon the facts known at this time," said Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall in a prepared statement, reported the Associated Press. "We've been going around the clock. Some of these are close calls. This one is not."

Larson, 34, was arrested Thursday night in connection to the murder that took place behind Winners Sports Bar in Cold Spring. Larson lives in an apartment above the bar. Authorities say Decker was ambushed and shot multiple times when he and his partner were responding to a welfare check on Larson.

Larson told the St. Cloud Times Sunday that authorities have the wrong man.

"Basically, they have no evidence whatsoever that points in my direction,” Larson said during a phone call to the Times from Stearns County Jail.

The St. Cloud Times report states:

On Thursday night, before Decker was killed, Larson's family members reportedly told police they were concerned for Larson's well-being and asked officers to check on him.

"I did send a couple text messages to my parents letting them know that tomorrow (Friday) was a big day," Larson said.

Larson said the messages were meant to indicate that he'd be taking a new direction in school, not that he was going to harm himself. Larson is a student at St. Cloud Technical & Community College.

Decker and another officer were not immediately able to make contact with Larson. They returned about an hour and 45 minutes later, and it was then that Decker was ambushed and shot twice in the parking lot at Winner's Bar, according to investigators. Larson lives in an apartment above the bar.

Larson insists he was sleeping at the time of the shooting and that authorities have arrested the wrong person.

"The next inkling I had that anything was going on out there was when search teams were coming down my hallway," Larson said.

Decker's funeral is set for Wednesday, when up to 2,000 officers from around the country could attend, according to a story by the St. Cloud Times.

After the service, two processions will take place through the community: the first will include officers from outside Stearns County, the second will include Decker’s casket, family and friends, and all Stearns County officers, reported the Times.