Bloomington Man Arrested for Brawl with Burnsville Police

A Bloomington man who allegedly became belligerent during a traffic stop faces felony charges for assaulting two police officers.

Jacob Zachary Kooy, 23, is charged with fourth-degree assault on a peace officer, a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a $6,000 fine. He has also been charged with a fifth-degree controlled substance crime, also a felony, and driving after revocation.

According to the criminal complaint, Burnsville officers encountered Kooy on March 25, during a patrol of the area around Fremont Avenue South. The neighborhood had been the scene of several burglaries, and that night a report came in about a suspicious vehicle and someone banging on a garage door.

A patrol cruising the area came upon a passenger vehicle. As soon as the squad came into view, the car abruptly turned into a driveway, backed up and sped away. The driver also failed to signal during the U-turn, which gave the officer a chance to initiate a traffic stop.

The driver identified himself as Kooy. He admitted that he didn't have a license. The officer observed a strong odor of marijuana and ordered Kooy out of the car. 

At this point, Kooy allegedly reached into his pocket. Fearing for his safety, the officer grabbed Kooy's hand, which only made him more combative. Kooy pulled his right hand free and tossed a small object—a white pill— onto the backseat.

By this time, backup had arrived. Kooy continued to fight the officers. He appeared to be trying to shove a white pill into his mouth. The scuffle became so intense, the report says, that officers were pulled into Kooy's car. In spite of multiple tasings, Kooy resisted officers' efforts to subdue him. Two policemen suffered minor injuries during the incident. 

Kooy refused to provide a statement after his arrest.

The pills were later identified as Percocet and Oxycodone.