On April 6, 2026, at approximately 8pm, law enforcement from the Moorhead Police Department was dispatched to Essentia Emergency Room in Fargo for an assault that had taken place in Moorhead. Officer Brifki made contact with L. O. ("Victim") who indicated he had been at his friend's place on 34th avenue south in Moorhead, Clay County, when his friend hit him. His friend was identified as John Michael Ackerman ([DOB redacted]) ("Defendant"). According to the Victim, he and M. P. ("Witness") arrived at the Defendant's residence at approximately 6pm that evening.
The Victim noted the Defendant was already upset due to losing custody of his children earlier in the day. Victim indicated that once in the apartment everyone began to drink alcohol. The Victim eventually sat down at the dining room table located in the kitchen and living room. The Defendant approached the Victim out of nowhere and began to assault the Victim. The Victim described that the Defendant "came down on me." The Victim did not believe he had said anything to the Defendant to provoke him and was caught off guard.
The Victim believed he had only been punched once. The Defendant struck the Victim in the center of his face with his right closed fist. Officer Brifki observed the Victim to have what appeared to be a broken nose due to the sharp unnatural turn of the nose along with a black and blue bruised up swollen left eye. Further, Officer Brifki noted dried blood on the Victim's clothes as well as fresh blood actively running from the Victim's nose and mouth. Officer Brifki spoke with M. P. Who stated the following.
She and the Victim arrived at the Defendant's residence, and everyone began to drink. They sat down at the dining room table and the Defendant and Victim had some sort of disagreement. M. P. Did not believe the disagreement was series. At some point M. P. Looked away and upon turning back she observed blood all over the floor. M. P. And the Victim then immediately got up and left the residence and M. P. Drove the Victim to EssentiA.M. P. Indicated the doctors had told them the Victim had a broken nose and multiple orbital fractures to his left eye.
Officer Brifki attempted to make contact with the Defendant at his residence on evening of 4/6/2026, but there was no answer at the door. Officer Brifki noted observing blood that did not appear to be fully dried on the floor directly in front of the apartment unit. On 4/13/2026 Officer Brifki made telephone contact with the Defendant. Officer Brifki read the Defendant his Miranda Warning and the Defendant indicated he understood and agreed to speak with him. The Defendant indicated that on the night of the incident the Victim and M. P. Visited his residence out of the blue and were already drunk.
The Defendant noted they all continued to drink and the Victim and M. P. Began to argue. The Defendant asked them to leave and M. P. Struck the Victim with her purse. Officer Brifki noted that M. P. Did not appear intoxicated and was acting normal when he spoke with her at Essentia on the night of the incident. ### PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
