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EmailAkeley Man Found Guilty of Assaulting State Trooper
WALKER, Minn. - A jury found an Akeley man guilty in the Oct. assault of a state trooper Wednesday night.
Authorities said Oct. 22, trooper Darcy Gagnon stopped 26-year-old Elijah Knowles on Highway 34 for suspicion of D.W.I. As Gagnon tried to handcuff him, he hit her on the head with the trooper's Taser.
The complaint said suspect Knowles put the stun gun to Gagnon's head and pulled the trigger, but the safety was on. Knowles then tried to take the trooper's sidearm, but was unable to get her gun.
When deputies arrived, Knowles fled at speeds exceeding 100 mph. He was arrested after trying to ram two squad cars and crashing his car.
Gagnon needed staples to close her head wound.
Knowles registered a .143 blood alcohol content and was charged with 13 crimes.
Authorities said the high amount of attention the case received moved the trial to Cass County.
After three and a half hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Knowles on seven counts including 2nd Degree Assault, fleeing police and D.W.I. Wednesday night.
His sentencing has been set for Feb. 15. He could face up to ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Written for the web by Joe Nelson and The Associated Press.
