New Information Released in Sibley County Use of Force Incident

Originally published 11:27 a.m. December 19th, 2022

Updated 2:00 p.m. December 19th, 2022

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is releasing more information regarding a fatal use of force incident.

The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office was called to a welfare check at 34-year-old Brent Alsleben’s apartment in New Auburn by his family at about 1:30 p.m. December 14th. Family members said they were concerned about Alsleben’s mental health.

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says deputies and medics responded, and several hours after they arrived, “reports indicate Alsleben displayed a knife and swung it at the responders.” Deputies tried to speak with Alsleben, encouraging him to leave his apartment safely. Shortly after midnight on December 15th, three Hutchinson police officers and two McLeod County deputies forced open the apartment door but did not go inside. They continued to ask him to surrender, but he wasn’t responding.

The press release says body camera footage showed something in the apartment was on fire, and at that point, police made entry, finding Alsleben on the floor with what appeared to be a large hunting-style knife in his hand. A struggle ensued when they tried to take Alsleben into custody, and one of the officers was cut. The McLeod County deputies deployed their Tasers, but they were unsuccessful, and investigators say Alsleben started to stand up, still holding the knife. That’s when the three Hutchinson officers fired their service weapons, hitting Alsleben. Those three officers are on standard administrative leave. Hutchinson is 16 miles north of New Auburn. The BCA confirmed to KNSI SWAT was involved in assisting the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with Hutchinson police and McLeod County deputies, members of the Sibley County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene but were not involved in the use-of-force incident. The officer and deputies involved in the incident still need to submit statements to the BCA but are expected to do so in the coming days. Investigators are continuing to review bodycam footage.

The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office asked the BCA to investigate. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the Sibley County Attorney’s Office for review.

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