Man Sentenced For Attack on Police Officer, Menards Employee
Luke Alvin Oeltjenbruns
A man who attacked a Menards employee and a police officer was sentenced on Wednesday in McLeod County Court. Luke Alvin Oeltjenbruns, 61, of Hutchinson, was originally charged with 1st-degree assault for use of deadly force against a police officer, two counts of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle that resulted in substantial bodily harm, all felonies. As part of a plea deal, one count of 2nd-degree assault and fleeing a police officer were dismissed.
A judge sentenced Oeltjenbruns to 120 months in prison, but in a downward departure, allowed the sentence to be stayed pending successful completion of probation. In the departure report, the defendant was noted to be amenable to probation and treatment, and showed remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions. As part of his conditions of probation, Oeltjenbruns must complete a psychological evaluation, attend individual therapy, write a letter of apology to his victims and pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for damages. Oeltjenbruns will also be required to complete 200 hours of community service.
Oeltjenbruns was given 365 days in jail as part of his sentence, but had been in custody since the incident and was given credit for 253 days time served. He will be able to serve any additional jail sentence as community work service.
A separate civil case filed that seeks to seize the truck that Oeltjenbruns was driving is still pending.
The incident occurred in April at the Hutchinson Menards store where police were called for a report of a man wielding a piece of lumber who assaulted an employee over a dispute about wearing a mask in the store.
According to a criminal complaint filed in court, surveillance video at the store showed a Menards employee and Oeltjenbruns get into a scuffle—later revealed to be about his refusal to wear a mask inside—when Oeltjenbruns allegedly hit the worker with a piece of lumber and then "five or six times" in the head with his hand.
Oeltjenbruns left the store and an officer spotted him in the Wal-Mart parking lot shortly after. The officer tried to stop him, but a slow speed pursuit started in the area of the Hutchinson Mall.
Oeltjenbruns stopped in the area of Highway 15 and Fremont Ave. SW., where an officer approached his driver’s side window. The officer became trapped in the window and Oeltjenbruns sped off, the officer still clinging to the truck. During the struggle, police say Oeltjenbruns struck the officer in the head with a hammer.
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