Man Sentenced For Assaulting A State Trooper

A Cass County judge sentenced the man convicted in the October assault of Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Darcy Gagon to 56 months behind bars and six years of probation. Elijah Lee Knowles, 26, of Akeley, Minn. was also ordered to pay $2,492 in restitution.


Knowles was found guilty of second, third and fourth degree assault, disarming a peace officer, DWI, fleeing police and obstructing the legal process. The trial had been moved from Hubbard County to Cass County.

On Saturday, October 22, 2011, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Trooper Gagnon stopped Knowles on State Hwy 34 just east of Park Rapids in Hubbard County. After performing field sobriety tests, including a preliminary breathe test, Trooper Gagnon attempted to place Knowles under arrest. As she attempted to handcuff the suspect, he resisted arrest and hit her several times on the head with the trooper’s Taser.

Knowles then put the Taser to Trooper Gagnon’s head and pulled the trigger, but the safety prevented the Taser from deploying. Knowles then attempted to take her sidearm, but was unable to access her gun. When Hubbard County deputies arrived on the scene, Knowles fled south on County Road 33 at speeds in excess of 110 mph. He was taken into custody after attempting to ram two squad cars and crashing his car near Hwy 46 and 200 Street in Hubbard County. Trooper Gagnon missed two weeks of duty as a result of her injuries, however she has since returned to full duty as she continues to recover.