SAINT PAUL – Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) released the following statement after it was announced Wednesday that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office declined to charge a repeat felon who dragged a Maple Grove police officer 40 yards by car:
“It is very concerning that Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and her office are declining to prosecute a repeat felon who committed a horrific assault on one of our Maple Grove law enforcement officers. While I am thankful Officer Brandon Gross has been cleared to return to work, he continues to suffer from pain in his shoulder after being dragged 40 yards by a criminal who used his vehicle as a weapon. Refusing to prosecute a case against a repeat felon who assaults an officer shows that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is more concerned about criminals than the victims of violence.
"I am sorry that this failure to uphold the law also fails to support the brave men and women who put themselves in harms’ way every day to keep our communities safe.”
Robbins noted that in the last session, House Republicans were able to get an amendment passed on the floor by voice vote that would have made it a felony to assault a peace officer. Unfortunately, this language was removed by the all-DFL Conference Committee and was not in the final version of the public safety bill.
“I will continue to support efforts to increase penalties for assaulting police officers. Officers put their lives on the line for our communities every day and they need to know that criminals who assault them will face consequences.”
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