Man Charged in Pool Ball Assault at Willmar Bar
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A 42-year-old man is facing charges after police say he caused extensive damage inside a Willmar bar and physically confronted officers while resisting arrest.
Court records say officers were called to Spurs Grill and Bar in Willmar just before midnight on Friday, Dec. 26, after reports of a man acting erratically, damaging property and refusing to leave.
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Dispatchers told responding officers that the man was breaking items inside the bar and throwing pool balls across the room. Officers arriving in the area were advised the suspect had left the bar and was seen near the intersection of Becker Avenue and 4th Street Southwest.
Police identified the suspect as Zachery Blake Johnson, of Willmar. According to the criminal complaint, an officer activated their vehicle’s emergency lights as Johnson stopped and turned toward police, but kept his hands in his pockets and ignored repeated commands to remove them. An officer drew a Taser and flashlight while continuing to give commands. Police say Johnson ignored the instructions and maintained a nonchalant demeanor as officers approached.
When an officer was about five feet away, Johnson allegedly lunged forward and shoved the officer backward into a nearby building. Multiple officers then took Johnson to the ground and advised him he was under arrest. Police say Johnson resisted efforts to be handcuffed by refusing to roll over and by gripping the front of his sweatshirt to prevent officers from securing his right arm. He was eventually restrained and placed in a squad car.
Inside the bar, officers documented significant damage. A pool ball was found lodged in a wall and a glass barrier near the kitchen had been shattered. Employees told police Johnson entered the bar acting strangely near the front entrance and at one point kicked the door. Witnesses said he began swinging pool cues and shooting balls aggressively across the room as staff attempted to close early due to his behavior.
One employee told investigators Johnson threw a pool ball with enough force that it embedded into the wall, then threw additional balls that broke a glass partition separating the kitchen from the rest of the restaurant. The employee said Johnson walked toward her in a threatening manner while telling staff to get away, though no specific verbal threats were made. After leaving the bar, Johnson allegedly kicked a fire hydrant on the sidewalk before walking away.
Another employee reported Johnson threw pool balls at a hanging flag and at a plexiglass barrier near the register. Surveillance video provided to police reportedly shows Johnson throwing pool balls toward a bar employee, who is seen attempting to run away and duck as the objects are hurled.
Johnson is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, fourth-degree intentional damage to property and obstructing legal process.
Johnson made his first court appearance earlier this week and was released on his own recognizance. Conditions of release prohibit him from contacting any victims and from entering Spurs. His next court appearance is set for Jan. 7.
