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Copyright 2004 St. Paul Pioneer Press
All Rights Reserved
Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)
April 14, 2004 Wednesday CITY EDITION
SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B10
LENGTH: 411 words
HEADLINE: MAN JUST OUT OF JAIL KILLED BY POLICE
HE DIALED 911, PULLED GUN, OFFICERS SAY
BYLINE: LISA DONOVANPioneer Press
DATELINE: NEW HOPE
BODY:
Ronald J. Adamson was released from the Hennepin County jail only to clash with police again Tuesday with
deadly results, authorities said.
Just home from a weekend behind bars, Adamson dialed 911 just after 11 a.m. and summoned police to his house
in New Hope, northwest of Minneapolis.
When police arrived, Adamson pulled a gun and one of the officers fired at least one shot -- killing the 50-year-old
Adamson.
Friend and attorney John Price said Adamson had been despondent since his divorce six or seven months ago,
which sent him into a tailspin of heavy drinking and problems with his ex-wife and the law.
"He just sort of melted down, he couldn't take the pressures of the world, that's the bottom line," Price said of
Adamson, a rare-coin dealer.
Last week, Adamson walked into the home his ex-wife shares with their two children, a move that would land him
in jail on violation of a protection order and burglary charges -- the second time such charges had been lodged against
him this year, according to Hennepin County District Court records.
Both cases were pending at the time of Adamson's death.
On Monday afternoon, Price stood with Adamson for a court hearing on the latest charges. Either during or after
the hearing, Adamson said he was looking at buying a long gun for hunting, according to Price.

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MAN JUST OUT OF JAIL KILLED BY POLICEHE DIALED 911, PULLED GUN, OFFICERS SAY Saint Paul
Pioneer Press (Minnesota) April 14, 2004 Wednesday CITY EDITION
Adamson was released either late Monday or Tuesday morning after posting the required 10 percent, or $50,000,
of the $500,000 bond set in the case.
So when Adamson summoned New Hope police Tuesday to his home, in the 3400 block of Ensign Avenue North,
they were familiar with him and his problems. He had been arrested several times on suspicion of driving under the
influence of alcohol, and police reportedly were familiar with his family problems -- including the allegations that he
had gone without permission into the house down the street where his wife, son and daughter now live.
Police would not elaborate on Adamson's death, saying only that he died in the encounter.
The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, "standard procedure in officer-involved
shootings," according to a press release.
The investigation has been turned over to the Hennepin County Sheriff.
The identities of the officers and their service records will be released in a few days, police said.
Lisa Donovan, who covers public safety, can be reached at ldonovan@pioneerpress.com or 612-338-6872.
LOAD-DATE: August 24, 2005