Ex-Oakdale Officer Guilty of Misconduct in Mental Health Incident
UPDATE: An ex-Oakdale police officer has been found guilty of misconduct in a case involving a man with known mental health challenges. Charles Anthony Nelson, 44, of Minneapolis, was convicted on February 7, 2024, after a jury deliberated for less than two hours in Washington County District Court.
The jury confirmed that Nelson committed misconduct by omitting details about his actions during a 2022 incident when he made over 30 calls to a surveillance subject, despite being instructed not to engage with the individual. The former officer was acquitted of charges related to harassment, raising questions about police conduct and accountability.
Why This Matters NOW: The verdict underscores the critical intersection of law enforcement and mental health, highlighting potential dangers when officers fail to follow protocol. Nelson’s actions resulted in a tense standoff, where the individual armed himself with a shotgun, posing a risk to himself and others.
The incident unfolded on September 22, 2022, when Nelson and his partner were dispatched to locate a man wanted on a felony warrant for making threats. Despite explicit orders from command not to engage due to the man’s mental health issues, Nelson used a phone app to disguise his number and repeatedly called the individual, remaining silent when the man answered.
Prosecutors argued that Nelson’s calls were intended to harass, leading to the man exiting his home with a shotgun.
“He never had intent to harass anybody in this case,”
said Nelson’s attorney, Pete Johnson, emphasizing that the officer was trying to assist someone in crisis. However, prosecutors maintained that the calls exacerbated an already volatile situation, escalating tensions and endangering lives.
Nelson was placed on paid leave following the incident and resigned in March 2023 after serving with the department since December 20, 2006. His conviction is a stark reminder of the responsibilities law enforcement holds in managing sensitive situations involving individuals with mental health issues.
Sentencing for Nelson is scheduled for February 13, 2024, and he faces serious repercussions for his actions. The case has drawn attention to the need for better training and protocols for officers dealing with vulnerable populations.
Key takeaways from the trial reveal troubling details about how police interactions with individuals experiencing mental health crises are handled. The BCA (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) investigated after reports surfaced about the calls making the surveillance subject “paranoid.”
In a significant move following the incident, Oakdale Police Chief Nick Newton reached out to the BCA to initiate a formal investigation. The results of this trial may influence future policies regarding officer conduct and mental health crisis intervention.
As communities continue to grapple with the implications of law enforcement actions, this case highlights the urgent need for accountability and reform. The verdict serves not only as a legal conclusion but as a pivotal moment for discussions around mental health, policing, and public safety.
Stay tuned for further developments as the sentencing date approaches and the conversation around police reform intensifies.
