A 38-year-old Zimmerman, MN, man is accused of assaulting a Minnesota State Patrol trooper after he crashed his vehicle in Brooklyn Center. Authorities say he was arrested with help from a good Samaritan who stopped to assist the trooper.
Matthew Cleve faces fourth-degree assault against a peace officer and disarming a peace officer, which are both felonies, in connection to the Jan. 3 incident.
Officials report that Cleve crashed his car into a retaining wall off of Highway 252 in Brooklyn Center. He then started to walk away.
A responding Minnesota State Patrol trooper approached Cleve and told him to stop, but Cleve continued to walk. When the trooper attempted to arrest him, Cleve suddenly punched the trooper and pinned the trooper to the ground. During the struggle, Cleve attempted to grab the trooper’s gun, according to the complaint filed by the Hennepin County Attorney.
Motorist Vincent Williams stopped at the scene and helped the trooper restrain Cleve, CBS reports.
“I saw a tussle and a fist flying and was like, ‘Oh, let me check it out.’ As I got closer and approached above him, I saw he had the officer’s gun,” Williams said. “I said, ‘Let the gun go,’ and I asked the officer, ‘Do you feel comfortable grabbing your Taser?’ He said, Hold him.'”