Former Minneapolis Police Officer Charged With Assault

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A former Minneapolis police officer is charged with assaulting a man while on the job, the state's attorney general announced this week.

Justin Stetson is charged with one count of third-degree assault in connection with the May 30, 2020, beating of Jaleel Stallings, which occurred in Minneapolis in the days following George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, according to a news release from the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Stetson struck Stallings for nearly 30 seconds even though Stallings had surrendered and was lying prone on the ground, the news release said, adding Stallings suffered a fracture to his left orbital wall. An expert use-of-force review of the case determined Stetson's actions were “unreasonable, excessive, and contrary to generally accepted police practice,” according to the news release.

The case was referred to Ellison’s office in spring 2022 by Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman, the news release said, noting Stetson no longer holds an active peace officer’s license in Minnesota.