Red Lake Felon Indicted for Possessing Ammunition

ST. PAUL—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, an indictment was returned against a 53-year-old Red Lake man for illegally possessing firearm ammunition on June 12, 2011. Edward Dean Cook, Sr., was specifically charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Because he is a felon, Cook is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Cook’s previous felony convictions occurred in federal court for the District of Minnesota in 1979 and 1992 for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

An affidavit filed in the case states that on June 12, 2011, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Red Lake Police were notified that Cook was seen outside a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in a pickup truck. He was believed to be in possession of a firearm. Cook then reportedly left the vicinity only to return at 4:00 a.m., at which time he allegedly began shooting at the house. Police responded to the scene and the truck took off, prompting a 44-mile chase. Ultimately, the truck was cornered, allegedly causing Cook to smash the truck into a police car in an attempt to flee. However, the truck got hung up on a log, and Cook was arrested. Discharged cartridge casings as well as unexpended rounds of ammunition were found in the vehicle. An 11-year-old child also was found in the truck, reportedly unharmed.

If convicted, Cook faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Steinkamp.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.