Fargo Man Punches Officers During Struggle

On June 7th, 2025, at 4:35 p.m., a Fargo Police officer was working in real-time crime center and monitoring cameras downtown. The officer was alerted to movement in the stairwell of the Roberts Alley parking ramp at 625 Second Avenue North. The officer reviewed the video and witnessed two males standing in view of the camera. One he recognized from past experiences and knew that he had an open warrant for his arrest. The other was observed smoking a substance from a clear glass tube, which is typically used to ingest methamphetamine. The officer notified patrol officers in the area who responded to the scene. As the officers arrived, they located the individual with the open warrant who was placed under arrest. But the second individual left as officers arrived. The officer in the real time crime center gave a description of the second male in his direction of travel. And a short time later, officer Winter and Officer Dean located a male matching that description at Second Avenue and Robert Street. Officer Jensen from the community engagement team was also in the area and responded. When officers arrived, Officer Jensen recognized the male as 37-year-old Joseph Manitowabi from previous encounters with him. Officer Winter confirmed that Manitowabi was the male who was observed by the officer in the real-time crime center that was believed to be smoking methamphetamine. Officers Winter, Dean, and Jensen stopped him outside. Manitowabi denied smoking meth before the officers tried to detain him. Officers got one of the handcuffs on Manitowabi before he pulled away, punched the three officers, then ran toward the Salvation Army, about a block north of the assault. Winter pursued Manitowabi on foot, Dean drove after him in her squad vehicle and Jensen pursued on a motorized tricycle called a Trikke. Officer Winter eventually catches up to Manitowabi who then obeys commands and gets on the ground. Officer Winter draws his taser while officer Dean has her firearm drawn to provide lethal cover on Manitowabi as officers are not sure if he has any weapons or firearms on him at this point. As officer Jensen arrives in the area, a black vehicle drives ahead of him that obstructed his view of officer Winter in Manitowabi. The person driving the black vehicle was actually a citizen that had witnessed the encounter and was likely trying to provide assistance. However, as officer Winter is giving commands to Manitowabi, he has to tell the person to leave to ensure they are safe and allow the officers to handle the situation. Officer Dean maintains cover while Officer Winter and Officer Jensen make contact with Manitowabi to control his arms and place the handcuffs on him. The officers empty his pockets as part of the search incident to his arrest and then calmly get him up and place him in their patrol vehicle. Manitowabi was arrested and charged with Simple Assault on a Peace Officer, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Refusal to Halt, and Preventing Arrest. On September 8th, 2025, Manitowabi was sentenced to 5 years incarceration, of which he will need to serve 2 years. He will then be on supervised probation for the remaining 3 years.