WINONA, Minn. – Police tackled and arrested a fleeing man after a chase that ended a long day of violence and threats that began on the East Side. Arrested wasRobert James Cerney, 43, of Winona. He had been tased twice by police as he fled, but, unaffected, he kept running. Officers tackled and cuffed him. This was about 7:30 p.m. in the 1350 block of West Fourth Street. Police gave this account of a series of events that continued 4-1/2 hours:
> Police received a frantic call from a man about a break-in at his mother’s house in the 650 block of East Wabasha Street. This was about 2:55 p.m. The son was elsewhere but had received a doorbell alert on his smartphone that showed his mother’s former boyfriend was trying to get in despite a court order to stay away. The son then heard a window being smashed and his mother screaming.
> Police arrived. Through a bedroom window the woman confirmed that Cerney was in the house and she feared for her safety. Police got her out of the house to a safe place.
> Officers told Cerney from outside to surrender. “You’re going to have to kill me,” he responded. Police had been in a 12-hour stand-off with Cerney in 2021 and didn’t want to go that route again. They decided to leave the scene, knowing that no one else was in the house and in danger.
> Meanwhile, sheriff’s deputies had been called to help. They established a perimeter around the house.
> Police were tipped about 7:15 that Cerney had left the house and probably was heading across town to a residence on the 1350 block of West Fourth Street.
> Police intercepted Cerney as he was arriving on a bicycle. He threw the bike down and started to flee but first punched one officer in the shoulder, another in the face.
> Officers tased Cerny twice with a stun gun as he ran but to no effect, probably because he was wearihg a heavy jacket that blocked he electrical charge. Officers tackled and cuffed hm. He continued resisting and issued a slew of epithets. Among them: “I’m going to shoot you with a pistol, you pieces of shit.”
> As Cerney was being booked, a jailer opened his wallet and found a trace of meth.
Cerney. Caught after break-in, pedaling a bicycle across town.
Injuries
Cerney had hand injuries when arrested, apparently from breaking the window at the East Wabasha Street address. An ambulance crew determined the cuts were superficial and applied gauze. Two officers who made the arrest suffered injuries they regarded as minor and didn’t seek medical attention.
Charges
> Domestic assault.
> Threatening violence without regard to injuries.
> Introducing contraband in jail.
> Trespassing despite a no-contact court order.
> Physically assaulting police officers.
> Obstructing the legal process.
> Fleeing police.
> Burglary.
> Damaging property.
> Possessing drugs.