La Crosse police release video of officer being attacked

The La Crosse Police Department released dash cam video Monday of an incident where an officer was attacked.

It happened in the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 4.

La Crosse police received a report at about 2 p.m. of a car that had hit a building and a person physically attacking people near the 400 block of Cameron Street.

As Officer Mark Rosenmeier arrived, the suspect, 22-year-old Jacob Olsen of Sparta, charged at him while he was still in his squad car.

The video shows Olsen jumping on the hood of the squad car. Just off camera, Olsen pounded his head into the windshield. He then punched the windshield with his fists.

Rosenmeier got out of the car and used his Taser on Olsen as he came at him with clenched fists.

Olsen continued to charge at the officer and attacked him. Officer Rosenmeier then used pepper spray on him.

Additional officers arrived and Olsen was taken into custody.

Rosenmeier and Olsen were both taken to the hospital to be evaluated for injuries. Rosenmeier was treated for minor injuries, was released from the hospital and has since returned to duty.

Olsen faces charges of battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, second-offense operating while intoxicated and a probation violation.

This isn’t Olsen’s first run-in with police. In January 2012, Olsen was shot twice by Sgt. Booker Ferguson of the Sparta Police Department after pointing a rifle at police and ignoring commands to drop it.

Olsen was shot in the chest and abdomen.

Ferguson was eventually cleared in the shooting.

Olsen was sentenced in April of 2012 to 30 days in jail and 3 years probation.

Olsen is currently being held in the La Crosse Co. Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.