After being arrested for a DWI, a Brooklyn Park man faces an additional charge after fighting with a correctional officer during the booking process.
Joseph Charles Schaumburger, 36, was charged Aug. 31 before Judge Amy Brosnahan in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge with felony fourth-degree assault of a correctional employee and misdemeanor traffic DWI. Bail was set at $13,000 without conditions or $2,500 with conditions, and his next court appearance was set for Sept. 21.
The incident happened after Schaumburger was arrested for a DWI on Aug. 28 in the city of Isanti and became violent toward correctional officers when being booked into the Isanti County Jail.
Isanti County Sheriff Chris Caulk said the jailers working in the booking department have a very hard job.
“Sometimes, as these individuals come into our facility, they have already assaulted an officer on the street, or sometimes they get into the booking facility and decide now is the time to fight,” Caulk said. “Over the years I’ve been with the sheriff’s office, I’ve noticed more and more individuals are becoming increasingly violent toward our jail staff, and the jail keeps getting busier and busier.”
Caulk said individuals who assault jail staff will be held accountable.
“In this case, this person was looking at a misdemeanor DWI charge when he came into the jail, but now, as a result of his actions, he’s facing a criminal felony charge,” Caulk said. “When someone is booked into our jail, our jail staff will do what they need to do to protect the suspect, themselves and the rest of the people housed in our facility. If an individual comes into our jail and assaults one of our officers, there will be repercussions for their actions.”
According to the criminal complaint:
On Aug. 28, at 1:46 a.m., within the city of Isanti, Isanti Police officer Rod Barrows conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle traveling 44 mph in a 30 mph zone.
Barrows identified the driver as Schaumburger, who acknowledged drinking beer and having a shot earlier that evening. Barrows had Schaumburger perform field sobriety tasks, and he had difficulty completing them. Schaumburger gave a preliminary breath sample, and the result was a 0.13.
Barrows placed Schaumburger under arrest and transported him to the Isanti County Jail. Schaumburger was escorted to the booking location and was “immediately resistive.” At Schaumburger’s request, he was given phone books to consult with an attorney but did not make any phone calls.
Isanti County Sheriff’s Office correctional officers Brandon Jokinen, Bobbi Gehrke, Jolene Keller and Todd Rudquist were assisting in the booking Schaumburger. Schaumburger said, “What do I have to do for you just to shoot me,” and started to leave the booking area. Schaumburger had been given orders to remain where he was but continued to walk away from the officers. Schaumburger grabbed a chair and threw it across the floor and was then taken to the wall by Jokinen, but Schaumburger continued to resist and Schaumburger and Jokinen ended up on the ground; Jokinen’s head was slammed either on the door or the floor. Schaumburger was shot with a stun gun and drive-stunned on his torso and legs by Keller, without any noticeable effect to him.
Schaumburger continued to fight as the officers tried to handcuff him. Once the defendant was restrained, Jokinen appeared to be in pain and was evaluated by Allina Emergency Medical Systems. Jokinen was advised to go to the hospital because they believed he may have broken his clavicle.