Man Charged With Punching, Kicking Richfield Police Officers

A Bloomington man already facing possible deportation has been charged with punching and kicking two officers last week.

Dennis Javier Chavarria-Diaz, 18, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer; gross misdemeanors that each carry a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Richfield Police Detective Eric Lammle, officers on patrol spotted a crying woman lying in the grass near the on West 66th Street just before 4:30 a.m. July 5.

The complaint says the woman asked officers for a ride home and said she was trying to get away from Chavarria-Diaz, whom she described as her ex-boyfriend. As she spoke to the officers, Chavarria-Diaz stood a short distance away.

According to the complaint, the woman was put into the squad car, and officers tried to speak to Chavarria-Diaz, who immediately became “combative” and threatened to “kick all of their [expletive]." Officers asked Chavarria-Diaz about the monitoring bracelet he was wearing on his ankle, and he told them he was on an immigration hold and accused all police officers of being racists, the complaint says.

When Chavarria-Diaz raised his hands up to his chest into a fighting stance and moved toward one of the officers, another officer grabbed his backpack from behind. The backpack ripped, and Chavarria-Diaz moved toward the other officer and attacked him, punching him in the face and rolling around on the ground with him, the complaint states.

Other officers responded and tried to subdue Chavarria-Diaz, who continued to fight, kicking one officer in the face. Police were eventually able to restrain him by using a stun gun on him.

Chavarria-Diaz has been released from custody on a $20,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Aug. 8 in Hennepin County District Court.