WILLMAR -- Twenty-four-year-old Brian Robert Detlefsen was charged with attempted murder Tuesday in District Court in Kandiyohi County, along with nine other felonies after allegedly assaulting the Atwater police chief.
Detlefsen had been hospitalized for more than a month at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis after Atwater Police Chief Reed Schmidt shot him during a fight Nov. 14.
Detlefsen allegedly used his van to ram the back of Schmidt's squad car around 9:12 p.m., then attacked Schmidt by hitting him in the head and face. The fight left Schmidt without useful vision in his right eye and Detlefsen with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Detlefsen, of Willmar, was held on $200,000 unconditional bail Tuesday by Judge Donald M. Spilseth.
Detlefsen faces a flurry of charges including a count of second-degree attempted murder which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He is also charged with six counts of assault ranging from first- to fourth-degree, two counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree and terroristic threats.
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The complaint filed with the charges revealed more details about the events that unfolded that night.
According to the complaint, Detlefsen allegedly made a U-turn in his van after passing Schmidt's squad car. He then allegedly sped into the back of Schmidt's car, pushing the vehicle about one block. Schmidt later told authorities he had seen Detlefsen make the U-turn and had stopped his car thinking Detlefsen wanted to talk to him.
Schmidt stated in the complaint that Detlefsen opened the unlocked door to Schmidt's squad car and began striking him in the face, using both arms. Schmidt was later found to have more than 10 cuts on the top of his head.
He was able to get out of the car and the two began struggling on the ground, Schmidt stated in the complaint. Schmidt said Detlefsen was trying to gouge his eye out in addition to striking him repeatedly on the top of the head.
According to the complaint, when Detlefsen was asked by Schmidt why he was attacking, Detlefsen said, "I'm going to kill you, you (expletive), I'm going to kill you and I'm gonna kill your family, you (expletive)."
During the struggle on the ground, Schmidt said Detlefsen repeatedly tried to gouge his right eye out while continuing to striking him. When Schmidt began to feel as if he were losing consciousness, he fired his weapon, striking Detlefsen's abdomen, the complaint states.
Schmidt underwent exploratory surgery on Nov. 17 for a ruptured eyeball and a severed muscle. The complaint states that Schmidt has not recovered useful vision in his right eye.
Schmidt's K-9 partner, Max, was also in the vehicle and injured during the crash. The 9-year-old Australian shepherd police dog was treated for a sprained leg.
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Atwater Police Officer Paul Schmidt, Reed Schmidt's son, is currently acting as Atwater police chief while his father recuperates.
Detlefsen is scheduled to appear in court again Jan. 8.
