Minnesota Man Sentenced After Attacking Menards Employee Over Mask Requirement
In April of 2021, a man was arrested after a violent incident at a Minnesota Menards home improvement store. 61-year-old Luke Oeltjenbruns hit a cashier and then a responding police officer in this bizarre story of 2021.
The criminal complaint states that a cashier had told Oeltjenbruns that he couldn't check out unless he put a mask on. The suspect then attempted to leave with merchandise when the cashier attempted to stop him, according to the Star Tribune. That's when Oeltjenbruns struck the cashier with a piece of lumber several times.
Police found Oeltjenbruns in another store's parking lot. A slow-speed chase then took place. Officers eventually surrounded his truck with squad cars but Oeltjenbruns refused to follow commands and exit the vehicle.
Officer Steven Sickmann stepped on the truck's running board and reached through the window. Oeltjenbruns then closed the window on his arm and drove off crashing into other squad cars. That's when the officer tried to use a rescue hammer to break the window and free himself from the moving truck. Oeltjenbruns was able to grab the hammer and then hit the officer on the head. Officer Stickmann was taken to a hospital where he need to get 8 staples to close the wound.
Now Weau TV is reporting that Luke Oeltjenbruns, 61, of Hutchinson Minnesota has pleaded guilty to first and second-degree assault charges. He has been sentenced to a year in prison, along with 10 years of probation. He is to perform community service, attend therapy, and also write letters of apology to the victims.
Oeltjenbruns wife Robbie Lynn Oeltjenbruns said during the sentencing that her husband suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD from his time in the military.
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