FARGO, ND – A man who assaulted three Fargo Police Department officers during a June 2025 encounter has been sentenced to five years, with two years to be served in prison and three years on supervised probation.
The incident occurred on June 7, 2025, when Officers Avery Jensen, Latasha Dean, and Cole Winter responded to an officer-initiated call about a man smoking what appeared to be methamphetamine in a parking ramp. The man, later identified as Joseph Manitowabi, became combative and assaulted the officers during the encounter outside the ramp.
A short video clip of the altercation previously went viral on social media, prompting public scrutiny. However, Fargo Police officials stated the clip only showed part of the story.
Earlier this week, Fargo Police released the full bodycam footage from the initial contact to the time Manitowabi was secured in a patrol vehicle. The video includes commentary from Neighborhood Services Captain Matt Christensen, who provides context on the officers’ actions and the call for service.
The department said the release is part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and public accountability.
