Minnesota Cop on Crime Spree Influenced by Anxiety, Possible PTSD

According to papers filed by federal defender Andrea George last week, Timothy Carson, the Minneapolis police officer who went on a robbery spree last winter, was led to his crimes by anxiety. Carson is a decorated Marine veteran who witnessed serious combat injuries and deaths while serving in Iraq in 2004.

Carson has been diagnosed with depression and PTSD. The documents filed by the defense say he was “haunted” by the memory of a serviceman he was unable to save when he administered first aid following a mortar attack at Camp Ramadi.

In many ways, Carson might have seemed to have made a return to normal life after ending his active duty. He attended the University of Minnesota, became a police officer with the Minneapolis SWAT unit, married and had a child.

In addition to the stress and anxiety of the trauma experienced in Iraq, Carson faced additional stressors at home, according to the documents filed last week by his defense. His wife falsely claimed to have cancer, convincing him that she had undergone biopsies and chemotherapy by cutting herself to give the appearance of having been operated on. She later admitted to lying but threatened suicide if Carson left her. Later, Carson’s wife claimed that their daughter, a toddler with a rare medical condition, had been sexually molested. Carson became obsessed with bringing the abuser to justice, although his attorney says he now believes his wife lied about the abuse as well.

Carson says he was experiencing anxiety and guilt when he decided to commit “suicide by cop.” He planned a bank robbery with the idea that it would end in a show-down with police in which he would be killed, and his wife and daughter would receive the pay out from his life insurance.

Carson’s first robbery was successful, and he allegedly repeated his crime 11 more times in the Minneapolis metro area. He left his last robbery on January 6 and reported to work at the police department an hour late. Later that day, he was arrested.

Carson’s case highlights the difficulties of dealing with PTSD. Although Carson has been diagnosed with the disorder, mental health care prior to his crime spree was evidently unable to identify him as someone likely to act out in ways that would endanger himself or others. His attorney has asked that he be sentenced to the minimum possible jail term, saying that psychological treatment is more appropriate than prison time.