Burnsville Police Use Taser on Man Charged with Assault

A Burnsville man has been charged with assaulting a police officer after authorities say he struggled with officers and forced them to use a Taser to subdue him.

Patrick Brian Johnson, 20, who also lists an address in Savage, is charged with fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, obstructing the legal process, intentional damage to property and underage drinking in connection with the June 6 incident.

According to the police report, Burnsville police were called to the area of County Road 5 and Williams Drive on a report of a domestic altercation, in which a witness said a man was chasing a woman pushing a stroller.

An officer found Johnson walking with the woman and turned on the patrol car’s emergency lights. As he approached the couple, he saw blood on Johnson’s shirt and on the woman’s face and neck, the report says.

The officer ordered Johnson to stop; he turned around and started to walk in the other direction, reaching toward the crotch of his pants, according to the report. The officer drew his handgun and ordered Johnson to take his hands off his pants and drop to the ground; Johnson took his hands off his pants and held his arms out at his sides, asking, “What, are you going to [expletive] blast me?,” the report says.

Johnson continued walking past the officer, who grabbed Johnson’s right arm and left shoulder and again ordered him to the ground. Johnson grabbed the officer’s uniform shirt and arm and tensed his arms, attempting to wrestle with the officer, according to the report.

The officer pushed Johnson to the ground, but Johnson twisted his body and landed on his back with the officer on top of him, continuing to twist and thrash his body, the report says. When Johnson rolled onto his side, the officer ordered him to put his hands behind his back; the officer tried to get control of Johnson’s arms, but he continued to thrash around, making it impossible for the officer to subdue him, according to the report.

Another Burnsville police officer arrived and worked with the first officer, eventually getting Johnson into handcuffs, the report says. During the process, Johnson continued to swear at both officers, making obscene statements, according to the report.

As the two brought Johnson to his feet and began walking him toward the patrol car, he stopped walking and raised his leg, trying to kick one of the officers, according to the report. Officers put him in a hobble restraint; he continued to struggle, and one of the officers used a Taser on him to get him into the patrol car, the report says.

During the struggle, a watch and a pair of sunglasses belonging to one of the officers were broken.

Johnson was taken to a medical center for treatment of his injuries. During the trip, he continued yelling obscenities at officers, calling them “[expletive] gangsters with tiny guns,” among other profanities, the report says. He refused to walk into the hospital and had to be escorted by officers.

Johnson’s criminal record includes a conviction last June in Scott County for criminal damage to property, domestic assault and disorderly conduct.  An omnibus hearing in the latest case against him is scheduled for June 15 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.