BEMIDJI, Minn. (Valley News Live) – A Bagley man is facing felony charges after Bemidji police say he intentionally defecated in a patrol car, causing it to be removed from service as a biohazard.
Sha-Lu Nuday Steeprock, 23, made his first court appearance Wednesday morning on charges including first-degree damage to property, fifth-degree drug possession, fleeing police, and obstructing legal process.
According to the criminal complaint, Bemidji police officers spotted Steeprock on Jan. 12 at a business on Paul Bunyan Drive Northwest. Officers knew Steeprock had outstanding warrants and approached him around 8:06 p.m.
Police say Steeprock fled on foot after officers told him he was under arrest. Officers caught him after he slipped on snow, but he continued to resist arrest, the complaint states. During a search, officers found a bag containing about .95 grams of a white powder that field-tested positive for fentanyl.
After being cleared at a hospital, Steeprock was placed in a patrol car. Officers say he told them he needed to use the bathroom. Shortly after, officers noticed an odor and heard Steeprock grunting, along with the sound of running liquid. When the officer told him to stop, Steeprock replied “no,” according to the complaint.
Officers found a large amount of fecal matter in the patrol car. After an hour of cleaning, the odor and stains remained. The vehicle was marked as a biohazard and removed from patrol until it could be professionally detailed and sanitized.
The complaint states the incident caused a substantial disruption to police operations.
Steeprock has an extensive criminal history, including pending cases for fleeing police, DWI and assault. He has prior convictions for DWI, assault, domestic assault and giving false information to police.
He is charged with first-degree damage to property involving a public safety vehicle, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The drug possession charge carries the same maximum penalty.
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