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Minnesota man sentenced for shooting deputy with bow

ST. CLOUD (AP) — A Minnesota man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for shooting a deputy with a bow during a standoff last year.

Ramey James Olson, 32, of Alexandria, was sentenced for two counts of first-degree assault against an officer and one count of first-degree burglary.

Olson also will have to pay more than $27,000 in restitution, the St. Cloud Times reported.

Olson was arrested after a standoff in Sauk Centre on Sept. 13, 2018. According to the complaint, Olson “began a crime spree” in Osakis, where he stole a car, and eventually crashed into a Sauk Centre garage. He took a homeowner’s compound bow, shot arrows at three law officers — striking Stearns County Deputy Paul Orvis in the left forearm — and was wounded by officers who returned fire.

Prosecutors asked for a sentence of more than 20 years at sentencing Thursday. Olson’s attorney asked for a sentence of just over 12 years.

Orvis submitted a victim impact statement that was read in court.

“The decisions you made that day changed all our lives,” Orvis wrote. Orvis said he was not mad at Olson, but that Olson had no regard for anyone’s safety that day and forced law enforcement to make a decision no officer wants to make — to use deadly force.

Olson apologized in court.

“In doing so, I hurt a community,” Olson said. “Please forgive me, Stearns County.”

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