Canton man pleads guilty to 2 of 13 charges in state trooper assault case
(ABC 6 News) – A Fillmore County man pleaded guilty to 2 of 13 charges following a traffic stop and fight with law enforcement earlier this year.
Jacob Olias Erickson of Canton was accused of engaging in a physical fights with a Minnesota state trooper on Feb. 4 of this year.
Erickson was originally charged with the following in Fillmore County Court: two counts of 4th-degree assault of a peace officer, one count of attempted disarming of a peace officer, one count of obstructing the legal process, one count each of fleeing a peace officer, both in and outside of a motor vehicle, three counts of driving while intoxicated, driving without a Minnesota license, driving an uninsured vehicle, marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to court records, Erickson pleaded guilty to one count of 4th-degree assault and one count of DWI–refusal to test on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1.
The details of Erickson’s plea agreement had not been publicly posted Thursday morning, Sept. 14.
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(ABC 6 News) – A Fillmore County man appeared in court Tuesday on multiple traffic, drug, and assault charges after a Feb. 4 incident that allegedly began with a traffic stop and ended with two drivers pulling the man off of a state trooper.
According to court documents, a Minnesota state trooper saw Jacob Olias Erickson, 31, driving with a strange, arms-locked posture down Highway 52 near CR 21 in Fillmore County on Feb. 4.
Erickson, of Canton, has had a warrant out for his arrest because of an alleged probation violation in 2016, according to court records.
According to court documents, the trooper initiated a traffic stop on County Road 23 after seeing Erickson driving with an expired registration and noting that he slowed down and activated his left turn signal as if planning to turn when there was no roadway or driveway.
The trooper reported that the two vehicles pulled over to the right, and Erickson allegedly admitted that he did not have a valid driver’s license, he did not have his license on him, and his driving record was “not good.”
The trooper also reported smelling marijuana and seeing an open case of beer on the passenger seat floorboard of Erickson’s car.
Erickson turned off the car when asked and stepped out of the vehicle, but he allegedly left the keys in his ignition, per court documents.
The trooper claimed Erickson became “agitated” when told to sit on the trooper’s front bumper while the trooper checked his car, and allegedly started walking back toward his vehicle.
According to court documents, the trooper attempted to handcuff Erickson, who jerked away and attempted to get back into his car through the passenger side and drive away, while the trooper, at the driver’s side door told him to get on the ground.
Erickson allegedly threw ice and snow chunks at the trooper.
The trooper reported that he did not have service on the county road, and could not radio for backup.
According to court documents, the trooper held up his taser, told Erickson he was under arrest, and would be tased if he didn’t cooperate. The trooper claimed Erickson dove into the back passenger seat of his car, held up clothing to shield himself from the taser, then slid into the front passenger seat and tried to maneuver into the driver’s seat.
The trooper allegedly tased Erickson with one cartridge, then another, which had a minor effect. According to court documents, Erickson dropped the key, but grabbed the trooper’s shirt and tore it off the trooper, taking his radio, earpiece, and body camera with it.
When the trooper attempted to tase Erickson again, he allegedly grabbed the taser and turned it on the trooper.
According to court documents, the trooper got back to his squad car and used it to push Erickson’s vehicle into the ditch. Both re-exited their cars, and Erickson allegedly began to run, so the trooper attempted to pull him to the ground.
According to court documents, Erickson ended up on top in the physical fight, until two more pulled up next to the sparring pair and pulled Erickson off the trooper.
The trooper handcuffed Erickson, with some difficulty after his alleged taser injury.
Both were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Harmony to have their injuries assessed.
Another Minnesota state trooper allegedly found a pipe with marijuana residue, a small amount of marijuana, and paper money with a substance that may have been cocaine in Erickson’s car.
Erickson faces the following 13 charges in Fillmore County Court: two counts of 4th-degree assault of a peace officer, one count of attempted disarming of a peace officer, one count of obstructing the legal process, one count each of fleeing a peace officer, both in and outside of a motor vehicle, three counts of driving while intoxicated, driving without a Minnesota license, driving an uninsured vehicle, marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16.