Pelican Rapids Man Takes an Officer’s Weapon During Arrest

Cole Franzen (OTCDF)

Pelican Rapids, MN – A man from Pelican Rapids is charged with taking an officer’s weapon and deploying it during an arrest.

According to court documents, a Pelican Rapids officer and an Otter Tail County deputy responded to a potential domestic situation at around 5:54 Saturday evening (December 14th).

Shortly after arriving to the residence, the officers told 28-year-old Cole Edward Franzen that he was under arrest for domestic assault. Franzen ran away from the officers, towards the home. The deputy was able to catch him in the entry way where they struggled, with Franzen ending up on top of the deputy on the ground.

Court documents say the police officer then deployed his taser on Franzen to no avail. Franzen continued to fight back and was put on his stomach, at which point the police officer placed his taser on the ground next to the scuffle and attempted to assist. Franzen was able to pull the taser underneath him and deployed it on the deputy, who grabbed it and got it away from him.

After several uses of the taser and combative maneuvers by both officials to get Franzen in handcuffs. Franzen continued to fight as he was brought to the squad car by continually falling to the ground and moving away from the door. Eventually, he was placed in the vehicle.

Franzen has been charged with two felony counts of Domestic Assault, one felony count of 4th Degree Assault Towards a Peace Officer, one felony count of Disarming a Peace Officer, and one misdemeanor count of Fleeing a Peace Officer By a Means Other Than a Motor Vehicle. He made his first court appearance Tuesday morning (December 17th).