UPDATE, May 9: In Additional citation filed against Minnesota lawmaker arrested over weekend, published Tuesday in the Pioneer Press, Mara Gottfried and Dave Orrick report:
A state lawmaker is now charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly scuffling with a security guard at a St. Paul bar, hours before he was cited for refusing to leave a nearby hospital.
Rep. Matt Grossell, who was arrested Saturday, pushed a security guard several times before pulling him to the ground, according to the misdemeanor charged filed in Ramsey County District Court Tuesday.
“Rep. Grossell is remorseful about his conduct that night; it does not reflect his true character or the hard work he gives to the state of Minnesota,” his attorney, Ryan Garry, said Wednesday. “We will address the legality of any citations in court.” . . .
Grossell told an officer working at the hospital that he needed to know why he was brought there. He stated he was in the House of Representatives and a retired police chief and he deserved to know, Ernster said of what was recorded in the police report. . . .
It’s unclear whether Grossell will face consequences at the Legislature for his arrest, but there were no signs any were being seriously considered as of Wednesday.
There is no firm precedence or policy for alleged transgressions by lawmakers that occur outside the Capitol and do not involve fellow state employees or sexual allegations.
The Republican Party is in the minority in the House, and Grossell holds no leadership position in the caucus, so it’s uncertain how the caucus could sanction him.
[end update]
By now, news of the early Saturday morning arrest of Clearwater Republican state representative and retired deputy sheriff Matt Grossell for trespassing has been tweeted mercilessly since Deanna Weiniger and Dave Orrick scooped the story for the Pioneer Press.
More details emerged Sunday at the PiPress in Kristi Belcamino's Minnesota lawmaker arrested after incidents at hotel bar, Regions Hospital, police say:
Police say Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook, was arrested for trespassing Saturday morning when he refused to leave a hospital he’d been taken to after acting disorderly and intoxicated and pushing a security guard at a local hotel.
Investigators said shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday police were called to the Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge at 161 St. Anthony Ave. in St. Paul by hotel security who said there was an intoxicated man acting disorderly in the bar.
The man was identified as Matthew John Grossell, 53, of Bagley, Minn., according to St. Paul police public information officer Sgt. Michael Ernster.
Once officers arrived, they wanted to check on Grossell in his hotel room to make sure he was OK. After doing so, officers didn’t believe he could care for himself and called for paramedics to evaluate him after he couldn’t answer basic questions, Ernster said.
Grossell was taken to Regions Hospital where he was evaluated and cleared by hospital staff. However, Ernster said, Grossell refused to leave the hospital and became argumentative with staff. Security told him if he didn’t leave he would be arrested for trespassing. When he refused, he was arrested, transported to Ramsey County Jail and booked for misdemeanor trespassing, police said.
We're surprised by the lawmaker's aggressive behavior with the hospital staff, since he's on record supporting added penalties for individuals who attack firefighters, EMTs and hospital staff. On January 1, Grossell posted on one of his Facebook pages:
I've got legislation that will increase the penalty for attacks against our MN Firefighters, EMT's and Medical Personnel in our hospitals but the MN Senate Judiciary Chair, Limmer, won't support my bill and asks 'Why do these people deserve more protection than the average citizen'. Hmmm let me think, BECAUSE THEY PUT THEMSELVES SELFLESSLY OUT THERE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TO HELP OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED UNLIKE THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. Please share this far and wide and encourage our MN Senate Judiciary Chair to support protecting our emergency services personnel.
The note accompanied a bloody image of an attacked first responder that Grossell shared:
Grossell's bill is HF421:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.2231, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
(a) Whoever physically
assaults any of the following persons and inflicts demonstrable bodily harm is guilty of a
felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment
of a fine of not more than $4,000, or both gross misdemeanor:(1) a member of a municipal or volunteer fire department or emergency medical services
personnel unit in the performance of the member's duties; or(2) a physician, nurse, or other person providing health care services in a hospital
emergency department.(b) Whoever commits either of the following acts against a person identified in paragraph
(a), clause (1) or (2), is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not
more than three years or to payment of a fine of not more than $6,000, or both:(1) physically assaults the person and the assault inflicts demonstrable bodily harm; or
(2) intentionally throws or otherwise transfers bodily fluids or feces at or onto the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective August 1, 2019, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
It's a fortunate that Grossell only shoved the hotel security officer--and merely became argumentative with hospital staff, or we'd have to call him out for hypocrisy while intoxicated.
We wondered if the taxpayers picked up the tab for the hotel room. Greater Minnesota legislators who live outside of fifty miles (2017-2018 rulees and 2019 rules) from the capitol do get paid housing of up to $1800 per mont, and the hotel--formerly the Kelly Inn--is a favorite for lawmakers and lobbyists given its closeness to the state capitol. Or so we're told. Member expenses for 2018 may be viewed here.
Whatever the case, we hope that Rep. Grossell taps into his faith in a higher power and addresses the consequences of his behavior. Let's hope that for the rest of the session, all Minnesota House and Senate members remain civil to all service, emergency and medical personnel--heck, everybody.
Photo: From the Pioneer Press, Grossell front and center during the Pledge of Allegiance on opening day.
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