WORTHINGTON — An alleged altercation between an inmate and correctional officers at the Nobles County Jail on Oct. 2 has Lucas Johnston-Burnett facing four felony-level charges including threats of violence, attempting to disarm a peace officer, and two counts of fourth degree assault against a correctional employee.
According to the criminal complaint, the assault occurred during an attempt to move Johnston-Burnett, 29, to a different cell after he allegedly began yelling, destroying property and threatening a facility employee. Several correctional officers were given direction to remove Johnston-Burnett’s property from the cell and, if he did not cooperate, to move him to an alternate cell so his property could be safely removed.
One correctional officer grabbed Johnston-Burnett by the arm in an attempt to remove him from the cell. Johnston-Burnett allegedly swung at the correctional officer, punched him in the face, and attempted to grab the officer’s taser. A second officer obtained the taser and deployed it on Johnston-Burnett with little effect, according to the report. The altercation continued until correctional officers issued two additional deployments of the taser.
The involved officers received various minor injuries. Johnston-Burnett declined to make a statement to police regarding the altercation.
Johnston-Burnett, a Wisconsin resident, was arrested in June on felony charges of stolen property-firearm, possession of a firearm after a conviction of a crime of violence and possession of stolen property-motor vehicle. He is currently awaiting trial at the Nobles County Jail.
