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Tussle with police leads to charges

NEW ULM — A May 29 confrontation with New Ulm police in the Hy-Vee Food Store parking lot that included threats and derogatory comments to officers led to six charges filed Wednesday against a 33-year-old Sleepy Eye woman.

Cassey L. Mertz, 21337 County Road 10, Sleepy Eye, was charged with felony threats of violence, two counts of gross misdemeanor 4th-degree assault, two counts of obstructing the legal process-interfering with a peace officer and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. She was summoned to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. June 25.

According to court documents, New Ulm police were dispatched to the Hy-Vee parking lot May 29 for a report of a woman, Mertz, who had taken several muscle relaxing pills. Police contacted Mertz in the front passenger seat of a Chevy Silverado pickup and opened a passenger side door to talk to her.

Mertz began to pull on the inside door handle and pulled off the inside part of the door. She was upset at officers and not receptive to their questions. She yelled at police, using derogatory comments towards them, slurring some of the words. Police asked Mertz if she would allow ambulance staff to examine her but she refused.

Police told Mertz she would be going to the New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) due to concerns about her health. Mertz said she did not want to go and ordered officers not to touch her. She adamantly refused to walk to the ambulance.

Two officers tried to take hold of Mertz’ arms but she began to punch them in their arms and forearms. She tried to knee an officer. She then tried to bite an officer and kick another officer.

Officers were able to handcuff Mertz and transport her to NUMC.

Police talked to a male driver of the truck who said about an hour before the call, Mertz took an unknown number of pills and he showed police two empty prescription pill bottles. The man said Mertz told him she would “slit his throat” if he told anyone she took the pills.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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