A man was arrested Monday evening after allegedly assaulting an off-duty Hermantown police officer.
The female officer saw a man acting suspiciously inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Hermantown Walmart about 6:18 p.m. The officer, who was in uniform, approached the man and told him that he was being detained. She called 911 and requested that an on-duty officer respond to the scene. While she was on the phone, the officer struggled with and was knocked to the ground by the suspect, who fled.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the area to search for the suspect, who was found in the parking lot of a car dealership. The 25-year-old man, who has no known address, is being held at the St. Louis County Jail on charges of fourth-degree assault, obstructing with force and possession of stolen property. The off-duty officer positively identified the suspect.
Two cell phones and charger accessories that had been stolen from Walmart were recovered from the suspect's car. The arrested man had gone to the store with three others. During the investigation, one was arrested on an outstanding warrant and one was cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana.
