Ex-Minneapolis officer charged in woman’s death posts bail

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A fired Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed Australian woman is free on bail.

Mohamed Noor and his attorney, Thomas Plunkett, walked out of the Hennepin County Jail around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday after posting $400,000 bail following his first court appearance earlier in the day. They said nothing to journalists waiting outside.

Noor was charged Tuesday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. He shot her last July while responding to the woman’s 911 call about a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.

The conditions of Noor’s bail include no contact with his former partner, Matthew Harrity, who was driving the squad car when Noor shot Damond through the driver’s window. Noor also had to surrender his passport and cannot possess weapons. He’s due back in court May 8.

The Somali-American Police Association defended Noor in a statement Wednesday, saying the charges against him are “baseless and politically motivated, if not racially motivated as well.” The group said it believes Noor “acted in good faith and in accordance with his department’s policy.”