Stewartville Felon Accused of Punching Olmsted County Deputy During Recent Arrest

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Oronoco, MN (KROC-AM News)- A convicted felon from Stewartville is facing new felony charges following a traffic stop north of Rochester early Wednesday morning. 

The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court Wednesday, says the traffic stop happened along Hwy. 52 near Oronoco shortly before 12:30 a.m.

The charges say an Olmsted County Sheriff's Deputy stopped the same vehicle about a half hour earlier for a tail light violation and learned both of the vehicle’s occupants were not currently licensed to drive. 

When the deputy stopped the vehicle for the second time he suspected a domestic assault had taken place following the first traffic stop.

The man in the vehicle was identified as 28-year-old Andrew Joseph Fogan.

The charges say the deputy called for backup and then opened the passenger side door of the vehicle to inform Fogan he was under arrest.

Fogan allegedly got out of the vehicle, backed out against it, and put his hands behind his back. Court documents say he then resisted the deputy's commands, began flailing his arms and throwing punches, striking a deputy in the face. 

Deputies who responded to the scene then deployed a taser to get Fogan under control and brought him to the Olmsted County Jail. The punch resulted in the deputy’s lip becoming swollen and he also reported feeling pain, the complaint says. 

Fogan was arraigned Wednesday on charges of felony domestic assault, felony fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, and a gross misdemeanor charge for obstructing the legal process. The judge in the case set his conditional bail at $20,000. 

Court records indicate Fogan was convicted of felony domestic assault in Olmsted County last November and was also convicted of violating an order for protection in Olmsted County in 2015. 

His next court appearance is scheduled for next month.