On November 17, 2025, at approximately 10:53 P.M., Wright County Deputy Williams responded to the area of State Highway 55 E and State Highway 25 N in Buffalo, Wright County, Minnesota, to assist Buffalo Police Officers on a shoplifting call. An employee of the Holiday gas station, 7 8th Street NE in Buffalo advised that a male subject that was removed from the property earlier that evening had returned to the store and stole beef jerky, soda, and chips, totaling $68.60. He was reported as saying “there are no laws and it’s a free country”. The male was described as a Native American male wearing a tan colored Carhart style jacket.
The employee said the male was walking towards the train tracks near the intersection of 55 and 25. Dep. Williams located a male matching the description walking eastbound on the south side of 55, just east of 25. He activated his emergency lights and identified himself as a Deputy, then told him to stop and that he was not free to leave. While doing so, he observed the male to be carrying beef jerky and soda bottles that were not bagged. The male ignored commands to stop and continued to walk away, telling the deputy to leave him alone.
Dep. Williams approached him and attempted to grab his left arm to detain him. At that time, he suddenly dropped the food items, swung his right hand towards the deputy with a closed fist, and pushed him away with his left arm. He then balled both of his fists and took a bladed stance before picking up some of the food items. Based on the behavior of the male, Dep. Williams backed away and drew his Taser X26P. With the suspect continuing to advance, Dep. Williams deployed the Taser’s cartridge with the top probe appearing to hit him in the lower left quadrant of his torso and the bottom probe hitting him in the top of his left thigh.
However, the Taser was ineffective, and the male responded by trying to grab the cartridge wires, then walked towards the deputy and tried to grab him and/or the Taser. Dep. Williams backed away and pulled out a chemical irritant spray. The male was told to get down on the ground and that he would get sprayed if he did not. He did not comply and continued to walk eastbound, and the spray was deployed several times. The male suddenly lunged towards Dep. Williams, dropping the food items, and proceeded to swing towards his head with a closed right fist, which struck the Deputy in the left side of his forehead and left a red mark/abrasion.
At that time Officers with the Buffalo Police Department arrived on scene to assist. Officer Cargill grabbed the yet unidentified male and brought him to the ground. Dep. Williams, Officer Cargill and Sergeant Lillehei of Buffalo PD then attempted to get the suspect’s hands behind his back, as he had tucked them underneath his torso. While doing so, both Officer Cargill and Sergeant Lillehei were bitten on their hands by the suspect. He was finally placed in handcuffs but still not complying and at one point tried to kick all of the officers.
