RIP Ricky Cobb: Minnesota Cops Who Killed Black Driver Could Finally Face Discipline

Ricky Cobb II’s family files a complaint with the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training to seek justice for the 33-year-old Black man slain during a traffic encounter. Cobb’s family seeks justice for his untimely death through prominent civil rights attorneys Bakari Sellers, Harry Daniels, and F. Clayton Tyler.

Ricky Cobb II was stopped by Minneapolis state troopers on Interstate 94 on July 31, 2023. The traffic stop ended fatally when authorities tried to arrest Cobb for restraining order violations. Cobb fled while being arrested, and Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan shot and killed him.

“Six months have passed since the trooper killed my kid, but the anguish never goes away. We can’t forget because it will happen to others.” Nyra Fields-Miller, Ricky Cobb’s mother

Cobb was stopped for not having his back lights on, according to MDPS video. Three officers arrived, but only Londregan fired. Importantly, family attorneys said the MDPS indicated “At no point on available video” did Cobb have a gun.

Cobb’s family and activists demanded action six months after the tragedy because the officers were not charged.

Cobb’s mother, Nyra Fields-Miller, described her son’s death: “Six months have passed since the trooper killed my son, but the anguish never goes away. We can’t forget because it will happen to others.”

Attorney Bakari Sellers stressed the case’s urgency: “Be unambiguous. Not a tragedy. It was illegal. Ryan Londregan stopped Ricky Cobb II for not having rear lights. He didn’t ticket him. He did not read his rights. Neither protected nor served. After making demands and escalating the situation, he killed him even though he was harmless. None of the other policemen intervened. The Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training operates for this reason. We just want them to work.”

The Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) allowed officers to lose their licenses for breaking conduct rules without a criminal charge in May. Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, prompting this rule.

A complaint to the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training is a major step toward justice for Ricky Cobb II. The case highlights the essential need for openness and consequences in police misbehavior as the family, activists, and legal representation continue to strive for accountability. The community hopes the Board will examine and correct inappropriate use of force to ensure a fair and just resolution for Ricky Cobb’s untimely death.

Attorney Bakari Sellers called the event a crime, not a tragedy. Sellers claimed that Trooper Ryan Londregan’s actions exceeded his duties, escalating and killing Ricky Cobb II. Sellers urged the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training to hold police accountable for misconduct.

The Ricky Cobb case tests post-George Floyd reforms while the community awaits the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training’s response to the complaint. It emphasises the necessity for a prompt and transparent resolution to resolve force misuse and deliver justice for police violence victims.

As the complaint is presented to the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training, the public expects a thorough and unbiased inquiry into Ricky Cobb’s death. The outcome will affect Cobb’s family’s quest of justice and police monitoring institutions’ efficacy in addressing malfeasance. The tragedy highlights the need for law enforcement accountability and transparency to rebuild trust in police violence-affected communities.