FRIDLEY, Minn. -- A man who police say was apparently working for a private company removing a tree died Thursday after being electrocuted.

Police in Fridley say 51-year-old Johnny Cotton, of Minneapolis, was working on the 5200 block of Buchanan Street Northeast Thursday night. The incident happened around 8:30 p.m.

While Cotton was working on a lift, he accidentally struck a nearby power line with a chainsaw. Emergency responders attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Fridley police, the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office are all involved in the investigation.

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First published on June 17, 2022 / 10:27 AM

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