A St. Paul man convicted of assaulting a female police officer and causing her permanent injuries has been sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison.
Ramsey County District Judge Lezlie Ott Marek sentenced Thomas Jerard Swenson on Monday, giving him credit for 89 days served in custody.
According to testimony at trial, St. Paul police officer Felicia Dee Reilly responded to a 911 call on March 24, 2010, from a home in the 1600 block of Birmingham Street. Swenson, 35, lived there with his parents.
Reilly, 56, testified that Swenson's mother answered the door and told her that Swenson was threatening them. He also was drinking, the mother said.
Frances Swenson denied during her testimony that her son made threats.
When Reilly
approached Thomas Swenson, he punched and kicked her to the point where she thought she was going to die, she testified. Reilly, 56, had to retire from the force because of her injuries, which include double-vision, nearly constant migraine headaches and memory loss.
Swenson's parents said the injuries came when Reilly tripped on some furniture.
On July 26, a Ramsey County jury convicted Swenson of first-degree assault, fourth-degree assault on a police officer and obstructing legal process.
"The brutal actions of this defendant abruptly ended Officer Reilly's career," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "This is yet another unfortunate reminder of the real dangers that law enforcement officers face each day. We are pleased with the maximum sentence handed down in this case and the measure of justice it provides to Officer Reilly and the St. Paul police community."
Copyright 2013 - Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
