By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondant

Prior Lake police officer Michael Alan Ficken was charged with misconduct of a police officer and three other misdemeanor crimes following an incident that allegedly occurred at his former girlfriend’s house in Prior Lake while he was on duty the morning of June 10.

Ficken, 34, was charged with misconduct of a police officer, fifth-degree assault (causing fear), disorderly conduct and damage to property by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office Friday afternoon. The charges were drawn by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office to avoid a conflict of interest in the case.

The Shakopee Police Department conducted the investigation.

According to the criminal complaint:

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, the complaint stated. 

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.

Ficken’s next court appearance will be on June 22, at 1 p.m. in Shakopee.

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. 

Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 orshogendorf@swpub.com.