
Joseph Martin Espinoza
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO) – The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of a man accused of breaking into a home and threatening the homeowners on Monday.
According to the news release, 37-year-old Joseph Martin Espinoza of Grand Forks is accused of entering a home by breaking a window. He is also accused of threatening the residents with a gun by firing shots inside the home, pointing a gun at officers, attempting to steal one vehicle, and stealing another vehicle earlier in the day before crashing it into a ditch.
Deputies were dispatched to a vehicle that had crashed into the ditch in the 800 block of County Highway 81. The caller said the vehicle had passed him on the shoulder of the road at approximately 90 miles per hour just prior to the crash. The caller also said the male, who the Sheriff’s Office identified as Espinoza, was fleeing on foot from the vehicle.
A short time later, a call came into dispatch to report a break-in at 877 10th Street NE south of Grand Forks. Two residents, a man and woman, were inside the home at the time of the invasion. One of the homeowners indicated to dispatch that they were going to get a gun.
The release said once Espinoza was inside, one of the homeowners fired a shot at him to force him out of the house. After a struggle, Espinoza took the gun and fired several shots. As the homeowners continued to attempt to get Espinoza out of the house, the man sustained minor injuries and the woman was struck in the face by Espinoza.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they said Espinoza was attempting to steal the homeowner’s vehicle. The woman was outside by the vehicle and yelled to warn the deputies Espinoza had a gun before she ran back into the house.
The deputies took cover and ordered Espinoza to show his hands. After seeing the gun, deputies ordered him to drop it.
Espinoza walked toward the deputies and pointed the gun at them. Deputies fired at Espinoza, shooting him in the leg.
The deputies were able to handcuff Espinoza, who continued to be uncooperative, and administer aid to him. Espinoza was transported to Altru by ambulance and was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The deputies, Corporal Brandon Rakoczy and Deputy Dustin Wadholm, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard in any officer involved shootings, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Rakoczy has been a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office since 2010. Wadholm has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office for two months and is currently in field training.
The incident remains under investigation.
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