Officer in Hutchinson, Minnesota dragged, assaulted by white driver

By Alyssa Wilson Published: April 16, 2021

Officer in Hutchinson, Minnesota dragged, assaulted by white driver

61-year-old Luke Alvin Oeltjenbruns was arrested after assaulting a police officer and dragging him with his car in Hutchinson, Minnesota. (Photo Credit: McLeod County Sheriff's Office)

In Hutchinson, Minnesota, about 60 miles from where police killed George Floyd and Daunte Wright, a white driver assaulted and dragged a police officer with his car.

According to KARE 11, on Wednesday afternoon, Hutchinson Police attempted to pull over a 61-year-old man who reportedly assaulted an employee at a home improvement store with a piece of lumber after being asked to put on a mask.

Police said they pursued the suspect in a low-speed chase near the Hutchinson Mall.

When the suspect’s car stopped, officers approached it and one became trapped in the window.

As the officer remained trapped, the suspect sped off with the officer hanging outside of the car.

Police said the officer, identified as Steven Sickmann, was also struck in the head with a hammer during the incident.

Sickmann was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and he has since been released.

The suspect, 61-year-old Luke Alvin Oeltjenbruns, was later arrested and charged with first-degree assault with great bodily harm, KIRO 7 reported.

The incident remains under investigation.

This video shared to Facebook appears to show the incident this afternoon in Hutchinson, Minn., in which an officer was dragged by a suspect driver and hit in the head with a hammer. – The officer is in stable condition and the suspect was arrested. pic.twitter.com/euqbhVNE9X

— MN CRIME ? (@MN_CRIME) April 15, 2021

Video of the encounter instantly drew comparisons to the way Black people are treated when confronted by law enforcement.

In Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, 64 miles away, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer on Sunday.

Wright, who was allegedly being pulled over for having air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror, was unarmed.

Start Your Day hosts Sharon Reed and Mike Hill discussed the disparities in treatment Black and white people receive from the police.

“That looked really scary and yet he lived, he was not tased or accidentally shot.” – @SharonReedLive shares her thoughts on the disparities in how Black people and white people are treated by police. #StartYourDay pic.twitter.com/YcKlYFWRZr

— BNC (@BNCNews) April 16, 2021