Bob CollinsWe may never know the identity of a man who apparently brandished a gun at another driver in Brooklyn Park today in what, at least at first, sounded like a road rage incident.
The Star Tribune reports another driver called the police to report the man was flashing a gun at him on Interstate 694.
Minneapolis police caught up to the man at Interstate 94 and Olson Highway, attempted to arrest him, and then let him go, the newspaper reports, because he’s an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Why the secrecy and intrigue? Because of this provision in the state’s data laws:
Subd. 5.Undercover law enforcement officer. All personnel data maintained by a government entity relating to an individual employed as or an applicant for employment as an undercover law enforcement officer are private data on individuals. When the individual is no longer assigned to an undercover position, the data described in subdivisions 2 and 3 become public unless the law enforcement agency determines that revealing the data would threaten the personal safety of the officer or jeopardize an active investigation.
