A Burnsville man threatened another driver with a hammer after a traffic crash in Minneapolis, yelling that the man was “lucky” he was not armed, according to charges.
Joseph Brett Hummel, 43, faces a charge of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge was filed Wednesday, September 2, in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department responded to the area of 25th Avenue SE and Hoover Street NE on August 31 after a report of a person with a weapon. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim, who said he had just been involved in a traffic accident. Both drivers got out of their vehicles and began arguing.
READ MORE → Hennepin County coverage
The complaint states that the argument escalated when Hummel yelled, “You’re lucky I’m not strapped, because I would shoot your a**.” The two continued to argue until Hummel walked to his vehicle, retrieved a hammer and advanced toward the victim while threatening to hit him with it.
The victim told officers he fled from Hummel and returned to his own vehicle, where he retrieved his lawfully owned handgun, racked the slide and held it at a low ready position. At that point, Hummel fled the area.
Multiple witnesses, including law enforcement officers, saw the confrontation. The incident was also captured on surveillance and cell phone video, which corroborated the victim’s account, according to court records.
Officers later located and arrested Hummel. In a post-Miranda statement, Hummel admitted retrieving the hammer and said he used it to try to scare the victim. He told officers he did not actually intend to hit the victim but wanted to make him believe he would.
A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Felon Opened Fire on Masked Jeep Crew in Minneapolis Alley • Woman Charged After Metal Pipe Assault on Nicollet Mall • Eden Prairie Man Rams Car Head-On After Death Threat
Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
