A Grand Forks man who was held at bay by two residents during a rural home invasion is charged with more than a dozen counts, including simple assault, reckless endangerment and terrorizing. Joseph Espinoza is accused of breaking into a home between Grand Forks and Thompson before noon Sunday after he had earlier stolen a vehicle and crashed it. He scuffled with a man and woman in the home before he was shot in the driveway by two Grand Forks County deputies. Espinoza was treated for his injuries and transferred to jail. He is also charged with criminal mischief, robbery, burglary, theft of a firearm, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident.
AP
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Original post:
A man shot and wounded by Grand Forks deputies after pointing a gun at them on Sunday is being charged with 11 offenses.
The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office says 37-year-old Joseph Espinoza faces charges of reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, burglary/breaking and entering, criminal mischief, robbery, theft of a firearm, two counts of simple assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of terrorizing, and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
The Sheriff’s Office says, on Sunday morning, Espinoza crashed a stolen car on Highway 81 near Thompson, then broke into a nearby home… scuffled with residents… and gained control of their gun. Shots were fired by the homeowner and Espinoza.
Later, outside the home, authorities say Espinoza ignored commands by two Grand Forks County deputies to drop the gun. The officers then shot Espinoza in the upper left leg.
Corporal Brandon Rakoczy and Deputy Dustin Wadholm are on administrative leave pending an internal review of the incident.
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