REDWOOD FALLS — A 27-year-old Edina man who served as a U. S. Army combat medic in Afghanistan, faces four felony charges in Redwood County following an Aug. 28 incident in which he is accused of setting up a police ambush in Ramsey Park.

Christopher Mark Covert was charged with felony attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault-use of deadly force against peace officer, attempted second-degree assault-dangerous weapon and possessing metal penetrating bullets in Redwood County Court Oct. 3.

Covert allegedly sought to ambush law enforcement after making a fake suicide call to Redwood County Dispatch before his rifle jammed in the park, according to court documents.

Redwood County Dispatch received a 911 call from a man reporting a suicide victim in Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls. No additional details were given before the caller hung up. Dispatch immediately called the number but no one answered.

Within seconds, the same number called the Redwood County non-emergency line. When dispatch answered, there was no response on the other end of the call, but the line remained open and the sound of zippers opening and closing could be heard.

Officers were informed by dispatch the caller’s phone was mapping on the west side of the walking bridge near the Redwood Falls hydroelectric power plant. Ramsey Park is a 256-acre park with multiple entrances, miles of hiking trails, and heavily-wooded areas.

Officers arrived at the park at about 9:47 p.m. and immediately began canvasing the area. Officers illuminated the bridge and surrounding area with a flashlight but did not see anyone on or near the bridge. Crossing the bridge, dispatch informed officers the call was plotted near a park bench on the west side of the bridge. Officers did not find anyone or any cell phone around the park bench.

Entering the park near the power plant and from the North Grove Street entrance, officers found an unoccupied 2021 Mazda CX-5 SUV parked near the Zeb Gray Shelter. Dispatch ran the license plat and learned the vehicle was registred to Christopher Mark Covert.

Officers saw camping supplies, water, a Bible, crucifix, Narcan and notebooks in the vehicle. Dispatch verified the phone number registered to Covert was the same number as the 911 call and open line call.

Deputy K9 Echo began tracking towards the location of the initial 911 call, leading officers to a man, later identified as Covert, running from them towards the power plant bridge. He was given loud, verbal commands to stop but continued running onto the bridge.

Officers noticed Covert dropped a black rifle case with a rifle stock sticking out of the unzipped bottom of the case, while he was running. Officers secured the rifle.

On the bridge, Covert climbed over the railing, prompting officers to request Redwood Falls Fire & Rescue and ambulance to respond to the scene in case Covert jumped or fell.

Officers ran onto the bridge and grabbed Covert to prevent him from falling or jumping, then pulled him back over the bridge railing to safety.

Examining the rifle case, officers found an AR-15 rifle with an upgraded barrel and trigger, red dot optic, and flip over magnifier, cell phone and loaded magazine and several extra magazines. One magazine contained green tip ammunition originally produced for the military to penetrate steel and body armor. In the case, there were 10 fully loaded magazines, that equals about 300 ammunition rounds. Rifle inspection showed rifle action jammed with a double feed, brass over bolt malfunction.

A search warrant was granted Aug. 29 to search Covert’s phone. During the search, Redwood Falls Assistant Police Chief Steve Schroeder learned Covert has extensive military training.

On Aug. 23, Covert sent a text message that read “there’s a time to kill but always call on Christ first.”

A month earlier, Redwood County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on the Mazda CX-5. Covert was identified as the driver who told deputies he was visiting Ramsey Park.

On Sept. 1, officers talked to a witness who said they tracked Covert’s phone through the “my phone” app and that Covert came back from Montana to a cabin near Isle, Mn on Aug. 27.

The next day, he went to Edina to withdraw his life savings from his checking and savings accounts.

The witness said Covert then came to their farm near Morton and gave the witness a $78,000 check and said he would never take his own life.

After he was arrested, Covert was taken to a hospital emergency room, then the Minneapolis VA hospital. He was diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder, a psychotic illness similar to schizophrenia, according to court records.

Relatives and friends of Covert including a former coach say he needs mental health treatment, not incarceration, according to letters written and filed as court documents.

“After he was helped off the bridge, he was sent to get help from the Minneapolis VA Hospital, where according to his family, he made great progress under their supervision. This is not a young person that should be jailed, he should get mental health support that will enable him to re-enter society as a productive citizen,” wrote Minneapolis Washburn High School cross country and track coach Curtis Johnson.

Covert remains in Redwood County Jail custody on $1.2 million bail or bond without conditions, $900,000 with conditions. An omnibus hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 25.