Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Melanie Udell
Gender : Female
Age : 53
Race : White
Date : 03/07/2025
Location : Parking lot of a homeless shelter
City : Bismarck
County : Burleigh
State : North Dakota
Agency : Bismarck Police Department
Officer(s) :Matthew James, Nathan Anderson
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during mental health welfare check
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On March 7, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Bismarck police officers responded to a report of a woman with marijuana smell coming from an SUV parked at a homeless shelter. Upon arrival, they encountered 53-year-old Melanie Udell. As officers engaged with her, Udell attempted to drive away and was ordered to stop. She allegedly swerved the vehicle toward an officer, missing initially, but on a second attempt, struck an officer, throwing him over a snowbank and injuring his knee. Both officers fired their weapons at Udell. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The officer who was struck was treated and released from the hospital.
