Man Sentenced for Assaulting State Trooper in Olmsted County

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man convicted of assaulting a State Trooper during a traffic stop in Olmsted County has been sentenced to probation.

Court records say the incident occurred in April 2023 near the eastern Kwik Trip store in Byron. According to the criminal complaint, 29-year-old Cory Lynn Spiess of North Mankato was pulled over after a State Trooper noticed his vehicle had a red and blue light bar near the top of the windshield that lit up when the vehicle was in motion.

The court document says the trooper ordered Spiess to exit the vehicle after observing signs of drug use inside it. That led the trooper to administer field sobriety tests and inform Spiess that he was being arrested on suspicion of DUI.

"Fighting Stance"

At that point, the criminal complaint says Spiess refused to follow the trooper’s commands and spun out of the officer’s grasp before assuming a “fighting stance.” An Olmsted County sheriff’s deputy who arrived while the field sobriety testing was taking place advised the trooper that Spiess had a gun in the vehicle.

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Taser Deployed 3 Times

During a struggle to subdue Spiess, he allegedly struck the trooper with several kicks before the trooper deployed his Taser several times during the altercation. The criminal complaint says the trooper and deputy eventually were able to handcuff Spiess, but he continued to resist by kicking the trooper and using his fingernails to cut and bruise the trooper’s hand.

Drugs Found in Vehicle

The court document says Spiess was eventually wrestled into the squad car, which he was also accused of damaging during the incident. A search of Spiess’ vehicle resulted in the seizure of a BB gun, along with 9.5 grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of powder that tested positive for heroin, marijuana wax, marijuana, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia.

Charges and Plea Deal

Spiess was charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, two counts of felony fifth-degree drug possession, misdemeanor DWI, and misdemeanor damage to property.

He earlier entered into a plea agreement and admitted to one felony assault charge and misdemeanor DWI in exchange for dismissal of the other charges.

Spiess was sentenced last week to three years of probation.