Police cleared in case of man who died during altercation

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Burleigh County prosecutors say no charges will be filed in the August 2021 death of a man who instigated a fight with officers and then suffered a medical emergency. An autopsy shows that 43-year-old Ryan Pederson had potentially lethal amounts of amphetamine and methamphetamine in his system that played a factor in his death. It was determined that the conduct by officers, including one shock with a Taser, did not cause Pederson’s death. The incident happened after police responded to a report of someone acting erratically and screaming outside of a residence. Police say Pederson became aggressive and threatened to kill them, then advanced toward the officers and began fighting with them while they attempted to arrest him. He then suffered a medical issue.