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BROWN COUNTY -- Jordan Netzke, 24, of New Ulm, faces a felony threats of violence charge plus gross misdemeanor fourth-degree assault after a weekend encounter with Brown County Probation and Brown County Law Enforcement.
According to court documents, Sleepy Eye Police were called Feb. 23 by a Brown County Probation agent who wanted to give them information about Jordan J. Netzke, 1915 Spring St. N. The agent said Netzke came in for a probation check the night of Feb. 22 and tested negative and was fine with the agent who did the test.
After Netzke left probation, another probation client told the agent that while Netzke was waiting at probation, he talked to himself about AK-47s, shooting up something, mentioned voting, seemed agitated and was pacing. In addition, the agent told police about an email they received from Netzke's mother. The email was forwarded to Sleepy Eye Police Chief Matt Andres.
The email began with the mother telling the probation agent she did not know what Netzke is using and said that if he is not using anything, he is mentally unstable and needs help. His text message rambled about family and random thoughts.
In other emails, Netzke's mother asked the probation agent to help Netzke, saying he needs treatment over jail and that it has been going on for almost two years and is getting worse, that he is acting "scary," and the agent is worried about his safety and hoping it's not too late to help him.
Sleepy Eye Police Chief Matt Andres went to Netzke's residence in an attempt to talk to him. Netzke said nobody was home and his actions, words and tones became manic and he seemed unpredictable, in a way he had not in prior contacts with him.
Andres contacted Brown County Investigator and Emergency Response Unit (ERU) member Eric Schwarzrock and explained the situation. Andres said he felt Netzke needed to be seen by a doctor to check his mental health, that he felt Netzke presented a threat to himself and others with his words and actions.
Schwarzrock told Andres the ERU will not respond if there are no criminal charges. Andres said they needed to get Netzke out of the house but due to the possibility of a gun being present, they needed to do it safely. Andres called police officer Elliott Waterbury and Brown County Deputy Matt Ibberson. Andres put Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service on standby in case of any injuries.
Ibberson, wearing a body camera, went in first. Andres wore a squad mic for audio. Andres knocked, opened an unlocked door, and Ibberson grabbed Netzke and brought him to the ground. Andres went to the ground to secure Netzke's arms, Waterbury helped place Netzke in handcuffs.
Netzke was transported to Sleepy Eye Medical Center, handcuffed to a bed with leg restraints on. Andres was told Netzke tried to kick out a hospital room window and he tried to knee a deputy.
Netzke was monitored throughout the day while medical staff tried to find a mental crisis center to send him to. A doctor said Netzke was acutely psychotic and needed mental health care beyond what the medical center could give. Netzke's mood swung from quiet to manic throughout the day. At one point, he stood up in bed, shaking it, like he wanted to tip it over. At times he yelled and was enraged, screaming curse words and yelling about random topics including school shootings and assault weapons.
At one point, Netzke hit Ibberson in the chest before he was restrained to his bed. He said he wanted to pull out a gun and shoot one of the law enforcement personnel.
At 9:30 p.m., police were told by hospital staff that there was not a crisis center that would take Netzke. He was transported to the Brown County Jail.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.