Caledonia Argus

Courtney convicted on multiple counts, sentencing set for May 19

Posted: 4/29/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

The man who threatened Caledonia Police Officer James Stemper with a gun has been found guilty of second degree assault and possessing a firearm with a removed serial number. Antoine Courtney, Brooklyn Center, MN, was convicted April 18 in District Court.

The incident occurred the evening of November 12, 2001, when Officer Stemper, Officer Heath Dienger, and Houston County Sheriffís Investigator Linda Coffield were dispatched to an apartment on Gjere Avenue, after being notified that Courtney had violated an order for protection.

When police arrived, Coffield positioned herself near the rear exit of the garage while Stemper and Dienger went to the front door of the apartment, where they were invited in. Stemper was told that Courtney was in another apartment in the building complex, and a friend of the apartmentís resident offered to go get him.

One minute later, Stemper observed Courtney come to the back door of the apartment, and asked him to come inside. Courtney replied, saying ìyeah, just a second,î and began to close the door and leave the apartment. Stemper followed Courtney and saw him running down the hallway toward a door leading to the garage.

Courtney then reached underneath his jacket and pulled out a handgun. Stemper drew his gun, and Courtney slipped down onto one knee, grabbed the door handle with his left hand and pointed the gun in Stemperís direction with his right. As Stemper ordered him to drop the gun, Courtney entered the garage.

Coffield was in the garage as Courtney entered, and Coffield and Stemper were successful in getting Courtney to disarm. They ordered him to drop the gun, at which point he fell to the garage floor and threw down his weapon. A search revealed that Courtney had in his possession just under $1500 in cash and a small bag of marijuana. The gun heíd pointed at Stemper had one round in the chamber and 10 in the magazine.

Courtney was initially charged with four crimesñ second degree assault, possessing a firearm with a removed serial number, possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of a pistolñ and pled not guilty to all four charges on April 22. The marijuana and unlawful gun possession charges were dropped the week of the trial, but a grand jury needed less than an hour to reach its verdict of guilty on the two remaining counts.

In March, Courtney was also convicted of second degree assault, terroristic threats, two counts of domestic assault, and criminal damage to property relating to a domestic incident at the same apartment in September 2001. His sentencing for both cases is set for May 19.

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