The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

October 27, 2009

Three charged for fighting with cops

By Dan Nienaber

MANKATO — A police officer responding to a disruption at the Kato Ballroom ended up in a skirmish with three people, including a woman who allegedly whacked him on the head with her shoe.

Security officers working at the private party called police for help at about 12:20 a.m. Sunday, saying they already had one person detained. By the time officer Steven Hoppe arrived, that person, 25-year-old Jose Luis Sandoval Jr. of Austin, had escaped from security and was attempting to run away, a criminal complaint said.

Hoppe stopped Sandoval, handcuffed him and started asking questions when he noticed the security guard, Jerry DeBill, was being pushed by a woman. Hoppe also attempted to handcuff her after she continued to push the security guard, the complaint said.

The woman, later identified as 21-year-old Stephanie Marie Navarro of Austin, was forced to the ground after she attempted to pull away, Hoppe reported. At that point a third person, 22-year-old Michael Eugene Bracken of North Mankato, joined the scuffle.

Bracken grabbed Hoppe by the back of his shirt, pulled him away from Navarro, then punched Hoppe in the head as the Hoppe turned to confront him, the complaint said. Hoppe was able to knock Bracken down with a punch to the throat, but, by that time, Navarro was back on her feet and coming at the officer again.

When Hoppe took her to the ground, Sandoval, still in handcuffs, hit Hoppe with his shoulder and started kicking him, the complaint said. After Hoppe used a “hip toss” to put Sandoval on the ground again, another officer, Daniel Grassmann, had arrived to help.

Grassmann held Sandoval down and Hoppe was attempting to get up when Navarro attacked again, the complaint said.

“As officer Hoppe stood up, Navarro had removed her left shoe and was striking him in the head,” the complaint said. “Navarro then threw the shoe at officer Hoppe.”

This time Hoppe responded by pulling his Taser device and using it to stun Navarro. She was handcuffed by a third officer after she fell to the ground.

All three suspects were arrested and appeared in court Tuesday for felony and gross misdemeanor charges of assaulting a police officer.

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