Cop blames muscle memory for shooting unarmed biker

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA — A Minnesota cop says he shot an unarmed motorcyclist because of "high stress" and "muscle memory" following a high-speed chase last June.

Dashcam footage of the incident has emerged online. It shows Sergeant Lonnie Soppeland of the Eden Prairie Police Department shooting rider Matthew Hovland-Knase in the left arm after pulling him over on June 20, 2015, KMSP-TV reported.

"Oh, you actually shot me, didn't ya? Hovland-Knase asks the officer. "I'm not going to say anything right now, but it was not intentional. I can tell you that," Soppeland replies.

"I know it wasn't," says Hovland-Knase.

Speeds of up to 110 mph were reached during the chase, according to KMSP.

Soppeland told investigators three days after the incident that "muscle memory" from firearms training 20 days previously was to blame for his "unintentional discharge", KMSP reported.

Eden Prairie Police Department said in a statement that Soppeland had returned to work following an investigation and faced no disciplinary action.

Hovland-Knase was later convicted of fleeing a police officer, according to court records, KMSP reported.

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