An Edina man is charged with 1st-degree attempted murder of a police officer and other felony counts after he allegedly armed himself with an AR-15 and set up an ambush of law enforcement in a Redwood Falls park in late August.
Christopher Mark Covert, 27, was allegedly carrying military-style ammunition designed to penetrate steel and body armor, but dropped his weapon and ran after the rifle jammed, criminal charges allege.
The incident unfolded around 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 28 at the 256-acre, heavily-wooded Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls.
According to the criminal complaint, Redwood County Dispatch received a 911 call that evening reporting a suicide in the park. No additional details were given and the caller hung up and did not answer when dispatchers attempted to call back.
Seconds later, the same number called the county's non-emergency line and the sound of zippers opening and closing could be heard.
Dispatch traced the caller's phone to a walking bridge at the park and officers responded, but did not find anyone on or near the bridge.
The phone then plotted near a park bench, but officers again did not find anyone.
Officers then located an unoccupied vehicle parked near a park shelter and determined it was registered to Covert.
Police could see camping supplies, a Bible, a crucifix, Narcan and notebooks inside the vehicle and determined the phone number that called 911 was registered to Covert.
Police began to search the heavily-wooded park with the assistance of a K-9 and officers began to shout, "Christopher, it's the police, we are here to help you," the charges state.
Covert was eventually spotted running away from officers.
According to the complaint, he ignored officers' commands to stop to running, ran onto the bridge and climbed over the railing before being grabbed by officers and pulled to safety.
While he was running, Covert allegedly dropped a black rifle case with an AR-15 inside.
Charges allege the loaded rifle featured modifications such as an upgraded barrel and trigger, red dot optic and flip over magnifier.
In total, investigators recovered 10 fully loaded magazines equating to approximately 300 rounds of ammunition inside Covert's rifle case.
A closer inspection of the rifle allegedly revealed the rifle action had jammed with a type of malfunction caused by the shooter intentionally placing the round into the chamber of the barrel very slowly, "which in turn would not cause any noise while loading the rifle," the complaint details.
According to the charges, investigators learned Covert had extensive military training and located multiple concerning images, searches and notes during a search of his phone.
Over two dozen findings are detailed in the complaint, including a text message Covert allegedly sent days before the incident reading: "There's a time to kill but always call on Christ first."
Charges detail searches found on Covert's phone, such as "does God ever condone killing" and multiple searches related to "unforgivable sin."
According to the complaint, Redwood County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Covert about a month prior to the incident. During the stop, Covert told investigators he'd been visiting Ramsey Park.
After the incident, investigators spoke to a witness who said Covert stayed at their cabin in Isle, Minnesota after returning from Montana on Aug. 27.
The witness said Covert left the cabin and went to Edina to withdraw his life savings from his bank accounts. He then visited their farm near Morton and gave the witness a check for $78,000.
The witness said Covert promised he would never take his own life, but the witness felt he had some sort of plan.
Covert is charged in Redwood County District Court with one count of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer, first-degree attempted assault of a peace officer, second-degree attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of metal penetrating bullets while committing a crime.
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