WADENA, Minn. - A Menahga man who challenged the legitimacy of the Menahga police chief was stunned with a Taser three times before being taken into custody during a traffic stop.
According to court documents, Menahga Chief Scott Koennicke saw Charles Edward Abbott driving a car March 2 in the city and knew he did not have a valid license. Abbott had told Koennicke several times before that he believes he does not legally need to have a license to drive a car.
Abbott told Koennicke he had no right to pull him over and challenged Koennicke's legitimacy as chief, asking him if he could provide proof of an oath of office.
Koennicke said Abbott was trying to drive away, and he eventually stunned Abbott with his Taser, three times in total, after Abbott failed to follow directions.
According to court documents, Abbott had scratched the tabs off his license plate and also bent the license plate down so it couldn't be viewed by other motorists. He has previous convictions for driving without insurance in October and November 2011.
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His next court appearance will be a contested omnibus hearing on May 3 in Wadena County District Court.
