Curtis Alan Felt, born on November 17, 1954, in Alexandria, Minnesota, was a Deputy Sheriff with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. On June 29, 1978, at the age of 23, Curtis was tragically killed in the line of duty. The incident occurred when Curtis was transporting a suspect who had been convicted of a DUI and subsequently sentenced to 30 days in jail for contempt of court after failing to pay the fine.
The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed in the sources, had been arrested
a month prior to the incident. On the day of the shooting, the suspect was not searched during his court appearance or when he was taken into custody. As Deputy Felt arrived to transport the suspect to the Fergus Falls Jail, the suspect drew a hidden firearm and opened fire on Curtis. The suspect was armed with multiple weapons, including 9 mm handguns in his belt, a. 25 caliber handgun in his pocket, and a. 357 caliber handgun in his boot.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene but was later shot and killed following a brief chase. Authorities discovered additional ammunition and a pipe bomb in the suspect's truck. Curtis Alan Felt's death was a significant loss to the community, and he was survived by his wife, two brothers, and parents. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a park near Alexandria was named after him in 2000.
