Man arrested after violent encounter with St. Louis Co., Babbitt law enforcement - KBJR 6

TOWER, MN -- A violent encounter with St. Louis County and Babbitt law enforcement near Tower Friday landed a wanted man behind bars.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened during a traffic stop around 12:05 a.m. on the Wahlsten Road in Kulger Township, which is just south of Tower.

A deputy tried to stop a vehicle driving in that area for “suspicious behavior.”

When the vehicle pulled over, a deputy started giving verbal commands to the driver.

That’s when authorities say the driver backed his truck up and rammed the squad car, with the deputy still inside.

The driver of the truck, who authorities identified as a 47-year-old man, drove off.

The deputy attempted several PIT maneuvers before a Babbitt Police Officer deployed stop sticks on Hwy. 21, which was about 2-3 miles from the location of the original traffic stop.

With both front tires on the truck damaged, the suspect kept driving for about a half mile before the deputy used a low-speed PIT maneuver to stop him.

Authorities say the driver got out of the truck and was holding a screwdriver.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the man started coming toward the deputy, who was both holding the suspect at gunpoint and ordering him to drop the screwdriver.

Police say the suspect did not drop the screwdriver and continued to approach the deputy.

The Babbitt Police Officer on scene used his taser on the suspect who then fell into the ditch.

Law enforcement then tried to handcuff the suspect, who authorities say continued resisting arrest.

Authorities claim the suspect was grabbing the deputy’s groin and gun belt.

Eventually, more law enforcement arrived on scene the suspect was safely secured in handcuffs.

The St. Louis County Deputy received medical treatment for an injury to his hand. Meanwhile, the Babbitt Police officer had a facial injury from when the suspect allegedly head-butted him.

As a precaution, the suspect was taken to the hospital where authorities say he was treated for “no specific injury.” He was released from the hospital and taken to jail, where he is expected to be charged.

“Although deadly force options were justified numerous times during the incident with this suspect, the two law enforcement officers chose less lethal tactics and options which resulted in a successful end to the incident,” St. Louis County Sheriff’s officials wrote in a news release Friday.

The suspect has not officially been charged yet.

Authorities have not identified the law enforcement officers involved in this incident.

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source: https://www.kbjr6.com/2022/03/25/man-arrested-after-violent-encounter-with-st-louis-co-babbitt-law-enforcement/

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