New Brighton police officer suffers broken wrist in assault, pursuit

A New Brighton police officer is recovering after a suspect assaulted the officer and then led police on a pursuit Monday afternoon.

The New Brighton Department of Public Safety said the officer stopped a man in the parking lot of a business near West County Road E and Silver Lake Road at about 2 p.m. becuase the man didn’t have a license plate on his motorcycle. The suspect then got off the motorcycle and began to fight the officer.

According to police, the suspect was able to break free from the officer and entered the driver’s seat of a car. As the officer continued to try to take the suspect into custody, the suspect drove the car into a building and back out with the officer stuck in the vehicle door. Eventually, the officer was able to break free and the suspect fled as other officers arrived.

The suspect then led police on a pursuit, which came to an end around 37th Avenue and Hayes Street when an officer performed a pursuit intervention tactic that disabled the car. The suspect ran from the scene but was quickly arrested.

Police said the suspect claimed he ingested narcotics and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The car had been reported stolen from the city of Coon Rapids.

Officers also found a Glock 9mm handgun and suspected narcotics the suspect threw from the vehicle. Police said the suspect had two active felony warrants out of Hennepin County and also had previous felony convictions for burglary and a firearms violation.

The injured officer was treated at a hospital for a broken wrist. Another officer received medical attention for an injury suffered during the foot pursuit.

Criminal charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.

The suspect wasn’t immediately identified.