Tuesday, December 4, 2012

A 34-year-old man accused in the killing of a central Minnesota police officer has been released without charge.

Authorities at the Stearns County jail confirm that Ryan Michael Larson was released shortly before noon Tuesday.

Larson was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Tom Decker last Thursday in the small city of Cold Spring about 75 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Stearns County Sheriff's Office say prosecutors have determined that they don't have enough documented evidence to charge Larson at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

Decker, a father of four, had been with the Cold Spring department for six years. His funeral will be held Wednesday in nearby Collegeville.