A Minnesota jail officer suffered a traumatic brain injury after an inmate allegedly attacked her, took her keys and tried to escape before being restrained by responding officers.
Samuel Osborne Stenberg, 21, of Beaver Bay, is facing multiple assault charges over the incident at Lake County Jail in Two Harbors on October 3.
Lake County Jail officer attacked during phone visit
Officers were called to the jail shortly before 1.50pm after receiving reports that a jailer had been badly assaulted and was bleeding, according to a criminal complaint.
Investigators said surveillance footage showed the officer escorting Stenberg to a day room for a phone visit at about 1.43pm. The complaint alleges that he grabbed her in a bear hug, put her in a headlock and forced her to the ground.
Stenberg is accused of punching the officer about 12 times before taking her Taser during the struggle. The device did not discharge, but he allegedly struck her on the head with it about nine times.
He then allegedly took the officer’s keys and ran down a corridor in an attempt to escape. The complaint states that he returned and attacked her again when she tried to stand.
Two officers responding to the disturbance reportedly saw Stenberg in the hallway holding the jail keys, with blood on him. He allegedly ignored orders to get on the ground and charged towards them.
Both officers used their Tasers before handcuffing him, according to the complaint. Stenberg allegedly continued kicking and reached towards one officer’s duty belt.
He was later placed in a restraint chair after reportedly yelling incoherently and banging his head against a wall.
The injured officer had blood over her clothing, a heavily bleeding cut to the back of her head and a wound to her left hand, the complaint says.
She was taken to hospital and treated for a traumatic brain injury. Several cuts required about 12 staples to close.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and Stenberg is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
