Police: Man impersonated officer when he made threat with replica gun

A North Mankato man allegedly impersonated an officer when he threatened another man with a replica weapon.

Corey L. Spiess, 26, is now behind bars awaiting charges of threats of violence, assaulting a peace officer, obstruction of the legal process, drug possession, and impersonating an officer.

North Mankato Police responded before 3 a.m. Saturday morning to an address on the 700 block of Belgrade Ave, where a man reported that another male had just pointed a firearm at him.

The reporter, who was driving,  also told police the perpetrator had flashed red and blue lights from his car.

Officers found Spiess sitting in a vehicle and saw the red and blue flashing lights.  Police made contact with Spiess, who exited his car, but apparently refused to comply with verbal commands and instead tried to enter his house.

“Officers deployed their Taser in an attempt to subdue Spiess and a physical struggle ensured during which an officer was kicked,” reads a press release from North Mankato Police.

Police say after Spiess was handcuffed he continued to resist arrest and hit his head on the ground.  The news release says officers located a replica firearm and suspected methamphetamine on Spiess, and found a light bar and toy badge installed on his vehicle.

Spiess was transported to Mayo Clinic Mankato and then to the Nicollet County Jail.

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