WINONA, Minn. – A veteran Winona police officer, Joshua Squires, has been placed on administrative leave after a complaint that he beat a juvenile in a domestic incident in early January. Based on a criminal complaint, the Winona Post broke the news of the Squires situation. The Post story came 30 days after the incident. Both the sheriff’s office and city police were involved in the case from the outset. But reporters who attend daily police briefings were not informed about the case either the morning after or in the month since. Police Chief Tom Williams confirmed when asked Friday that he placed Squires on administrative leave January 12, although that had not been reported to news reporters at the time or later. The criminal complaint lists these allegations, some details of which attributed to Squires and some to the juvenile:

> Squires was giving a ride to the juvenile from a rural residence, thought to be Minnesota City, when an argument either began or escalated.

> Squires punched the car seat and then punched the juvenile in the arm.

> Squires and the juvenile went into a house, believed to be inside the Winona city limits, although the locations are not yet entirely clear in public documents.

> In the house Squires proceeded to get in the victim’s face and used his chest to push the victim into a corner of the kitchen. Squires kept his hands behind his back but pulled the victim’s hair with his teeth.

This was the morning of Wednesday, January 4.  Deputies were called several hours later, at 4:08 p.m., to go to the rural address to check the welfare of the juvenile. The criminal complaint shields the name, gender and specific age of the juvenile. There is no clue whether the victim was a blood relative of Squires.

Charges

The criminal complaint alleges:

> Fifth-degree, misdemeanor domestic assault causing harm, punishable by 90 days in jail.

> Fifth-degree, misdemeanor domestic assault causing fear, also punishable by 90 days.

Squires career

Squires was a long-time city police investigator. His responsibilities have shifted over the years:

> Squires was on assignment a few years as a uniformed on-site officer at the Winona High School. The School Board reimbursed the city for Squires’ services.  The Board School Board eliminated the position in 2020 to soften perceptions about  discipline.

> Squires returned to the Police Department full-time as an investigator.

> Because of short-staffing, Squires was among investigators reassigned to patrol duties.