[MN] Officer Ficken wasn't done moving out of his ex's, finds a new man there, & now faces 4 charges

[Prior Lake police officer Michael Alan] Ficken, 35, was charged with misconduct of a police officer, fifth-degree assault (causing fear), disorderly conduct and damage to property... Ficken previously lived at this home and was asked to remove all his belongings by June 15. Ficken had been to the home in the past month and had a key... When Ficken arrived at the woman’s home in his squad car, he saw a vehicle he did not recognize and allegedly did a computer check on the license plate... he then entered the home and demanded to be let into the bedroom, which was locked. When the victim refused, he allegedly broke through the door... Ficken was in uniform and was wearing his gun and Taser...

(I hope someone talks to the ex-girlfriend about what to not do when you're breaking up.)

POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN INCIDENT AT EX-GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE
By Frederick Melo
fmelo@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 06/12/2009 03:12:53 PM CDT
[Excerpts] A Prior Lake police officer faces charges he broke into his former girlfriend's home while on duty June 10. The incident occurred in Prior Lake, but the Dakota County Attorney's office is handling the case for Scott County because of the potential conflict of interest. Michael Alan Ficken, 34, of Prior Lake, was charged with misconduct of a public officer, a gross misdemeanor. He also faces three misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, damage to property and fifth-degree assault... On June 10, he called his girlfriend but she did not answer the phone. He arrived in his squad car at 7 a.m., while still on duty, and allegedly ran the license plate of a car that was parked there. The charges state he then entered the home and demanded to be let into the bedroom, which was locked. When the victim refused, he allegedly broke through the door as she attempted to hold it shut. Ficken found a man in the room. Ficken made his first court appearance on Friday in Scott County, where District Court Judge Richard Perkins released him on his own recognizance. Ficken's next court appearance is June 22 in Shakopee... [Full article here]

PRIOR LAKE POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT
Star Tribune
By Joy Powell,
June 12, 2009
[Excerpt] ...When he saw a car he did not recognize in the driveway, he ran the plate, then entered the house to try to contact the woman. He allegedly broke down a bedroom door as the woman tried to hold it shut, then yelled at her and a man who also was in the room. Ficken was in uniform and was wearing his gun and Taser at the time. He did not draw the weapons, though he placed his hand on his gun, court papers say. Because of a potential conflict of interest, the case is being prosecuted by the Dakota County attorney's office. Ficken was released from jail on his own recognizance today after appearing in Scott County District Court. [Full article here]

PL OFFICER CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT
Shakopee Valley News - Shakopee,MN,USA
By Shawn Hogendorf orshogendorf@swpub.com
June 12, 2009
... At about 7 a.m. on June 10 while Ficken was on duty as a police officer, he allegedly called his former girlfriend, and when she didn’t answer her phone, he drove his squad car to her house. Court records state that Ficken previously lived at this home and was asked to remove all his belongings by June 15. Ficken had been to the home in the past month and had a key to the home, but always contacted the woman before entering the home, the complaint stated. When Ficken arrived at the woman’s home in his squad car, he saw a vehicle he did not recognize and allegedly did a computer check on the license plate. There was no known work-related reason to run the license plate, the complaint stated. Ficken then allegedly entered the home and attempted to make contact with the woman who was in a lower-level bedroom with the door locked. According to court records, Ficken asked the woman to be let into the bedroom, and she said, “No.” Ficken then allegedly broke through the bedroom door while the woman attempted to hold it shut. While inside the bedroom, Ficken began to yell at the woman and a man who was inside the room with her... Ficken began swearing and pointing at the man while in full uniform and wearing a firearm, according to the criminal complaint. The man told police Ficken was furious. The man also stated that he feared Ficken at the time. Ficken was later arrested and made his first court appearance Friday in Scott County District Court, said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. Ficken was released on his own recognizance subject to several conditions set by Scott County District Court Judge Richard Perkins... If convicted, Ficken faces a maximum of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine for misconduct by a police officer. He also faces a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each of the counts of fifth-degree assault, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property... [Full article here]
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