A routine traffic stop in Morrison County turned precarious when a deputy's arrest attempt escalated into a violent scuffle, leaving a suspect seriously wounded, authorities said.
A Morrison County Deputy stopped a vehicle on Hwy 25, just south of Pierz, for speeding and suspicion of impaired driving, late Saturday night. Following field sobriety tests, the suspect was informed of his impending arrest, an announcement that swiftly gave way to an altercation. During the fracas, the suspect sustained serious knife injuries and required an airlift to a local hospital, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office report.
In the wake of the incident, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. on May 25, the Sheriff's Office has deflected the investigative spotlight onto the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Details surrounding the origins of the knife and the narrative of the struggle remain cloaked as the BCA probes the deputy's use of force.
Further muddying the transparency waters is a video of the incident, now with the BCA, which could either vindicate the deputy’s actions or fuel public outcry. Meanwhile, the Morrison County Sheriff's Office was backstopped by an array of law enforcement and emergency support, including the Little Falls Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Pierz First Response Team, Mayo Ambulance, and Life Link III, as stated in their official communication.
While the BCA keeps the case details under wraps, the suspect's identity and condition remain undisclosed. The Sheriff's Office has rerouted all further inquiries about the incident to the BCA revealing little else about the case.
