St. Paul’s interim police chief presented a man named Alex Mingus with the chief’s award for valor last week. Mingus, who described himself as a school employee in Minneapolis, used the award ceremony to criticize police and promote rioting.

Mingus was awarded the medal because of his response to a shooting incident at a Speedway gas station near Rice Street and Larpenteur Avenue last October.

He saw several people running from the area, heard gunshots, and decided to follow a van leaving the incident, believing it may have been involved. When the van pulled over, a man got out asking for help and was bleeding profusely from his wrist.

Mingus wrapped the man’s arm with a shirt.