Arrest with Taser use filmed – InForum

MAHNOMEN, Minn. — A criminal complaint provides a clearer picture of what led to a dramatic arrest on the White Earth Reservation. The video of the arrest is circulating on social networks.

Court documents state that on Tuesday, May 21, witnesses called police when they saw an injured woman with blood on her face. According to the documents, Aaron Goodwin was trying to steal her car. She got into the vehicle and that’s when Goodwin took off. The woman had a restraining order against Goodwin.

According to White Earth Tribal Police, they spotted Goodwin in the vehicle just outside of Mahnomen. That’s when, they say, he accelerated and led police on a high-speed chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. The pursuit led them to Goodwin’s home, where the arrest was filmed.

In the video, law enforcement is seen entering the home, demanding that Goodwin get on the ground, and then an officer fires his Taser. The criminal complaint says Goodwin did not follow commands and began reaching into his pocket while police were in the home. The complaint also says Goodwin continued to dig into his waistband while he was on the ground, leading to the second Taser shot.

His father, Nicholas Goodwin, was at the home during the arrest. He said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“The next time I saw my son, he was sitting there like he was a zombie. … They could have killed him, you know. They could have killed him,” he said.

Nicholas Goodwin claims his son did not resist during his arrest and that police exceeded Taser shots at his son.

“I understand that maybe he was subpoenaed once, you know? But do you know how many times the police attacked him? Three times. Three times. And despite the zooms, he didn’t resist and It’s just what I can’t believe what those cops said…for a human life,” he said.

Aaron Goodwin faces charges in multiple jurisdictions, including domestic assault by strangulation and fleeing a peace officer. His family is currently considering a possible lawsuit.

White Earth Tribal Police said they are reviewing the matter internally but do not comment on active criminal investigations.