All of the conduct described herein occurred within the County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota, unless otherwise noted. On November 5, 2025, at approximately 1:52 pm, officers with the Duluth Police Department were dispatched to the Damiano Center at 206 West 4th Street in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota, on the report of an unwanted person. Dispatch reported that a man later identified as MICHAEL TODD FINEDAY JR., [DOB redacted], hereinafter referred to as the Defendant, was at the Damiano and refusing to leave the property after being asked to do so by a member of staff.
Officers arrived and were directed to the third floor where the Defendant was located in a shower room. Officers approached and, through a closed door, advised the Defendant that he was being trespassed and needed to leave the property. The Defendant was non-compliant. The Defendant finally opened the door. When the Defendant was again advised of the trespass and asked to leave, the Defendant made multiple comments about assaulting a staff member to collect his belongings. The Defendant began to leave and walk toward the exit.
Instead of continuing toward the exit though, he turned and walked toward an office room in the common area. Officers put hands on the Defendant and the Defendant immediately jerked away, spun around, dropped his center of gravity, and clenched his fists. Additional officers then put hands on the Defendant to attempt to control him, informing him that he was under arrest. The Defendant then pushed away from the wall causing officers to be pushed into a parallel wall across the hallway. This resulted in approximately 1.5-foot hole in the drywall.
The Defendant was then taken to the ground where he continued to resist and fight. The Defendant continued to fight officers while on the ground. Officer Jeanetta was attempting to control the Defendant by trying to get his right arm out from underneath him and the Defendant bit Officer Jeanetta on his right calf. This bite required a visit to the emergency room where a doctor cleaned the wound. As the fight continued, Officer McKee was on the left side of the Defendant’s body attempting to gain control of him.
The Defendant spit on Officer McKee’s left knee. The struggle continued. Officers were able to gain control of the Defendant and placed him in a hobble as he continued to resist. This went on even after being taken to Essentia Health Hospital for jail clearance. Once he was picked up after being cleared the Defendant again had to be forced into the squad in a seated position with the hobble. 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.
