On April 17, 2026, at 4:19 P.M., Burnsville police officers responded to a mental health call for a patient who had locked herself in a vehicle at Ridges Hospital in the city of Burnsville, Dakota County, MN. Officers located the female, Defendant ASHLEE NICOLE DEES GRIES [DOB REDACTED], seated in the backseat of a van in front of the Emergency Room entrance. Hospital staff informed officers that Defendant had assaulted a nurse, kicking her in the chest and leaving visible markings. An officer met with the nurse (“Victim”) and learned that Victim had been Defendant’s primary care nurse.
Defendant had been brought to the hospital after threatening to harm herself and group home staff. When Defendant advised she was being discharged from the hospital, she said that she wasn’t going to leave with that she would hit people. Defendant was escorted out by security and physically assisted into a wheelchair. While Defendant was being placed in the wheelchair, she struck Victim [NAME REDACTED], by her neck or arm. Victim then held Defendant’s arms until they reached the vestibule. Security staff and Victim stood Defendant up and directed her into the waiting van.
Once inside, Defendant rolled onto her back and lay across the seat with her legs outside the vehicle. Defendant kicked with both feet and struck Victim [NAME REDACTED]. Victim believed she subsequently struck her head against the van. After she was kicked, Victim [NAME REDACTED], and a coworker followed her inside. When asked if she lost consciousness, Victim [NAME REDACTED] has a dissociation disorder that causes her to “zone out.” Victim says she experiences seizures triggered by stress or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was conscious while in the bathroom and that an episode may have been triggered from being kicked and striking her head. Officers spoke with the two security officers who assisted in removing Defendant from the hospital. Neither saw Defendant kick Victim, but did see Defendant kicking and flailing while attempting to be placed in the van. Officers spoke with a nurse who found Victim [NAME REDACTED]. She saw the Victim [NAME REDACTED] in through the ambulance doors clutching her chest and bent over.
Victim walked into a bathroom and locked the door. She could not get a response from Victim and had another nurse unlock the door. They found Victim [NAME REDACTED], still clutching her chest. They observed an abrasion on Victim’s chest. 2 19HA-CR-26-563 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 4/20/2026 Officers spoke with Defendant. When an officer informed Defendant that Victim [NAME REDACTED], Defendant responded with, “That’s good. I want her to.” Defendant said her goal of assaulting Victim [NAME REDACTED] would get arrested.
While she was being searched incident to arrest, Defendant said, “I’m glad I’m going to jail because what I did was not good.” In a Mirandized statement, Defendant admitted to kicking and hitting Victim. Defendant said she purposely assaulted the hospital staff in the hopes that she would be arrested. Defendant is in custody.
