Carlton County Jail inmate accused of attempted murder

CARLTON — A Carlton County Jail inmate is facing attempted murder and other charges for an alleged assault on a jail officer.

Matthew William Johnson, 27, of Duluth, repeatedly punched and admitted to trying to break an officer’s neck Monday, Dec. 30, according to charges filed Thursday, Jan. 2 in District Court.

The officer was allowing Johnson out of a meeting room when Johnson allegedly punched him in the face approximately seven times.

The officer fell and his protective vest caught on a door handle, leaving him partially suspended, according to a court complaint.

Johnson allegedly punched the officer in the head approximately seven more times before the officer’s vest came loose and the officer fell to the floor. They then wrestled over the officer’s Taser and it discharged into the ceiling.

Johnson then allegedly got on the officer's back, punched him in the head approximately a dozen times, grabbed his hair and tried to force his head into the concrete floor. As the officer got up to a seated position, Johnson allegedly grabbed the officer’s head and twisted the officer's head and neck.

Other staff then arrived and restrained Johnson. The officer was taken to a hospital and needed stitches in his lip, according to the complaint.

Johnson allegedly asked staff if they saw him try to break the officer’s neck and admitted he tried to kill the officer.

Johnson is charged with felony attempted murder with intent but without premeditation. He also is charged with felony counts of assault causing substantial harm and assault on a correctional officer. Bail was set Thursday at at least $50,000.

Johnson was in custody on a felony vandalism charge following an Oct. 13 incident at Burger's Shoes in Cloquet. He smashed out multiple store windows with a baseball bat, causing over $10,000 in damage, the charges in that case allege.

A trial was scheduled for later this month. But court records show it was postponed after Johnson underwent a competency evaluation, the results of which are not public.

Johnson remained in jail Friday. Next court hearings for both cases are scheduled for Feb. 24.