Crime & Safety

Seeing an Officer in Trouble, They Stepped In

Tony Cadotte and Greg Groenjes were honored by the city officials after they helped a police officer subdue and arrest a dangerous suspect.

Tony Cadotte and Greg Groenjes had plans to spend a quiet evening watching a movie in Inver Grove Heights, plans that didn’t include wrestling with a dangerous suspect or helping a police officer in need.

But their plans were shattered the minute the pair walked out of the AMC movie theater in Inver Grove Heights and found a drunken man smashing car windows with a hammer.

On Feb. 2, the Dakota County Attorney’s office charged Michael John Hegstrom, 39, with terroristic threats, disarming a peace officer, fourth degree assault on a peace officer and criminal damage to property, among other charges. Police say Hegstrom went on a daylong drinking binge on Jan. 29, fleeing from St. Paul police in his car before coming to see a movie in Inver Grove.

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Instead of catching a movie, however, police say Hegstrom downed several more drinks at a local bar and — when a car parked too close to his vehicle — took a hammer to the windows of several nearby vehicles.

Enter Groenjes, an Inver Grove resident who was leaving the theater with his wife after seeing “The King’s Speech.”

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“I saw the smashed windows, and as I was absorbing that, he just walked out from between two cars,” Groenjes said. “I just stopped right there, looked at him and asked, ‘What are you doing, why are you doing this?’ He didn’t answer me, he just raised the hammer and stated walking towards me.”

“I didn’t think the guy was drunk—I thought he was deranged,” Groenjes said.

Fortunately, Groenjes wasn’t alone. Cadotte, an Iraq War veteran, Newport resident and certified handgun instructor, was also leaving the theater, as was another bystander. Together, the three surrounded Hegstrom, who was unresponsive and unpredictable, Cadotte said.

“I went in and I drew my pistol and told him to drop [the hammer],” Cadotte said. “I thought, ‘If he attacks me, I’m going to shoot.’”

The volatile situation got even more dangerous when Inver Grove Heights Police Officer John Decker — the first emergency responder on the scene — arrived. Rather than cooperating with Decker, who stepped out of his squad car and leveled his pistol at the suspect, police say Hegstrom threw his hammer at Decker and charged the officer. Decker Tasered Hegstrom, but the barbs caught in Hegstrom’s thick winter coat and had no effect on him, Decker said.

The officer tackled Hegstrom to the ground, but police say Hegstrom continued to struggle, reaching for items on the officer’s equipment belt and grabbing at the officer’s face. Decker, unable to subdue and handcuff Hegstrom, called for help.

Cadotte and Groenjes, yards away, rushed to his assistance.

“I didn’t stop to think whether I should or shouldn’t [help], I just ran,” Groenjes said. “I knew the cop was alone. The three of us bee-lined it down there and I grabbed [Hegstrom’s] legs.”

The assistance was exactly what Decker needed. With the suspect’s arms and legs pinned, Decker was able to handcuff Hegstrom and secure him in his squad car. Hegstrom is currently being held in Dakota County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 28.

For their actions, Cadotte and Groenjes were awarded a Certificate of Recognition at the Inver Grove Heights City Council meeting last week. While the police department normally doesn’t encourage citizens to assist with an arrest, Inver Grove Heights Police Department Lt. Larry Stanger said, the officer in this case requested help.

“A lot of times people turn a blind eye to certain situations, and these two stepped in and went above and beyond,” Stanger said.

“I’m really grateful that when I called for help, they came. It’s something that I won’t forget,” said Decker, a six-year veteran on the Inver Grove Heights police force. Law enforcement officers are presented with dynamic situations week in and week out, but some are more dangerous than others, Decker said.

"This outcome was the best outcome that I could’ve ever asked for, because nobody got seriously hurt," he added.

As for Groenjes and Cadotte?

The complete strangers decided to split a beer and get to know each other the night of the confrontation and arrest. On March 20, they will enjoy a little celebrity treatment at Minnesota Wild game, where they have been invited to give the pre-game announcements.

“The way I think, this is just what a guy should do,” Cadotte said. “You don’t walk away from stuff like this. It should be normal to step in.”


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