CHARGES: Woman Hurt Cop, Medic, Firefighter in Minneapolis Arrest
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A Coon Rapids woman is facing assault charges after prosecutors say she attacked an officer and emergency personnel during a disturbance in downtown Minneapolis.
Naomi Tamunotonye Foingil Iruene, 28, is charged with fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and fourth-degree assault of emergency medical personnel. The charges stem from an incident around 7:35 p.m. on Jan. 28 near Nicollet Avenue & S. Third Street in Minneapolis.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were dispatched to the area and made contact with Iruene, who was identified as the caller. One officer then observed her break the windshield of a Metro Transit bus, the documents say.
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When officers attempted to identify her, she refused to provide her name and was advised she was under arrest. Police say she resisted by attempting to bite and kick officers as they tried to detain her.
After being placed in handcuffs, Iruene told officers she couldn’t breathe and said she was passing out. Officers placed her in the “recovery position” and requested medical assistance. Medics from Hennepin Healthcare and the Minneapolis Fire Department responded. While being treated, Iruene allegedly kicked both a Hennepin Healthcare paramedic and a Minneapolis firefighter.
Due to her continued behavior, officers determined leg restraints were necessary for transport. As officers tried to apply the restraints, Iruene allegedly kicked a Minneapolis police officer in the knee, causing swelling and bruising. She was ultimately transported to Hennepin Healthcare.
Court records show Iruene was arrested by Metro Transit Police and booked into custody around 4:40 a.m. on Jan. 29. She was released from custody on Jan. 30 under conditional release. Her next court appearance is set for 1 p.m. on March 30.
In addition to the two felony assault charges outlined in the complaint, separate Hennepin County warrant cases also list misdemeanor trespass allegations tied to prior incidents involving Metro Transit and the sheriff’s office.
Records show Iruene has an extensive criminal history in Minnesota dating back several years. In July 2025, she was convicted of a misdemeanor dangerous weapons offense after an incident on a Metro Transit bus in Saint Paul, where police said she pulled out a knife during a disturbance she was not involved in and made statements that caused safety concerns for other passengers. That conviction was filed in Ramsey County.
In October 2022, Iruene was charged in Anoka County with second-degree assault and threats of violence after police said she threatened a homeowner and held a screwdriver to the person’s neck during a confrontation in a residential yard. The assault charge was later dismissed, but she was convicted of felony threats of violence.
Court records show additional convictions for property damage, reckless handling of a dangerous weapon and traffic-related offenses.
Judicial records also show multiple civil commitment cases filed in Anoka and Ramsey counties between 2016 and 2024 related to mental health proceedings, including periods of commitment, provisional discharge and court-ordered treatment. Several of those cases were closed prior to the Jan. 28 incident.
If convicted, each felony fourth-degree assault charge carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison and a $6,000 fine.
