Farmington police officer Tased, injured while responding to call

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Tasers can be an effective tool for a police officer dealing with an uncooperative individual. But if things don’t go quite right, they can also be a real pain.

One Farmington police officer found that out the hard way last week when he and another officer responded to a 911 call.

The officers, Nate Siem and Dane Tukua, didn’t have much information to go on when they responded to the Nov. 10 call at a home on Pine Street. Dispatchers hadn’t gotten any details, but had heard screaming in the background of the call.

When they arrived, the officers found 32-year-old Matthew Patrick Rickey of Mahtomedi, who, according to a complaint filed last week in the Dakota County Attorney’s office, appeared to be drunk and became belligerent toward the officers while they conducted their investigation. Rickey continued to fight when officers tried to restrain him, and when another officer tried to use his Taser Rickey twisted away, causing the Taser strike to hit Siem.

Siem lost control of Rickey after that. When he did, Rickey ran.

Police eventually arrested Rickey, but not before he kicked Tukua. According to the complaint, the incident forced Siem to take medical leave.

Once they had Rickey under control, police learned the 911 call had come because woman at the Pine Street home wanted Rickey to leave and he was refusing. The woman told police Rickey had prevented her from calling 911 and that she was afraid of him. Another individual eventually called police on her behalf.

Rickey has been charged with a felony count of obstructing a legal process. If convicted he could face up to five years in jail and fines of up to $10,000. A gross misdemeanor charge of interfering with a 911 call has a maximum sentence of one year and a maximum fine of $3,000. A misdemeanor charge of fifth degree assault has a maximum sentence of 90 days and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Tags: crime and courts, news, farmington