Crime & Safety

Police: Mendota Heights Man Attacked Officer With Hammer

Michael John Hegstrom, 38, faces a bevy of criminal charges after fighting with Inver Grove Heights police in a parking lot on Saturday.

What started as a late-morning drinking binge at a St. Paul bar, police say, ended with a car chase and a frantic fight with an Inver Grove Heights police officer.

Mendota Heights resident Michael John Hegstrom, 38, was charged Wednesday with terroristic threats, disarming a peace officer, fourth degree assault on a peace officer, criminal damage to property, third-degree DWI and obstructing the legal process.

Police say Hegstrom began drinking at 11:30am on Saturday at a bar in St. Paul. After evading St. Paul police, who attempted to arrest him for driving while impaired, Hegstrom allegedly told police he came to Inver Grove Heights to see a movie.

Find out what's happening in Mendota Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Instead of catching the movie, however, police say Hegstrom downed several more drinks at a local bar and began smashing car windows in a parking lot with a hammer. When a lone police officer arrived, Hegstrom allegedly attacked the officer—throwing the hammer at him and grappling with the officer.

At one point, the officer fired his Taser at Hegstrom, but the Taser barbs lodged in the man’s heavy winter jacket, preventing the electrical current from immobilizing him.

Find out what's happening in Mendota Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The officer tackled Hegstrom to the ground, but police say Hegstrom continued to struggle, reaching for items on the officer’s equipment belt and grabbing at the officer’s face. With the help of two bystanders, who secured Hegstrom’s arms, police were finally able to subdue the man.

Hegstrom, is currently being held in Dakota County Jail. Bail for Hegstrom has been set at $75,000 without conditions or $50,000 with conditions, which include no alcohol or controlled substance use, and no use of firearms or dangerous weapons. His next court date is set for Feb. 28.

Police say Hegstrom was convicted for a DUI in 2009. Under Minnesota law, a felony terroristic threats and felony disarming a peace officer charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Felony fourth-degree assault on a peace officer carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and $6,000 in fines.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Mendota Heights