Redwood Falls woman found guilty of assaulting peace officer over child custody confrontation

A Redwood Falls woman, Emiley Brook Halvorson, was found guilty of assaulting a police officer during an incident in January of 2023.
According to the evidence and testimony presented in court, on January 26, 2023, Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS) had custody of Halvorson’s four children pursuant to a Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) case. However, the children were placed on a trial home visit with Halvorson.
On that same date, SWHHS and Redwood Falls police officers responded to Halvorson’s parent’s residence to assume custody of the children after learning the youngest child’s hair had tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and extremely high levels of THC.
When police officers and social workers arrived at the residence, Halvorson became confrontational, yelling, screaming, using profanity and telling SWHHS and officers she would not be giving them her children. Halvorson then retreated into her parent’s home.
That led to a stand-off in the doorway of the residence, with Halvorson verbally and physically abusing an officer who refused to let her close the door on law enforcement and social workers, while the children were immediately behind her observing.
Shannon Ness, Assistant Redwood County Attorney, who prosecuted the case, told the jury in her closing argument, “Removing children from someone they love and who undoubtedly loves them is not easy for anyone. It is emotional, but it is clear from the Body Worn Camera footage, SWHHS and officers were attempting to remove the children as gently and as calmly as possible. However, Halvorson escalated the situation and made an already stressful event much worse than it needed to be by acting irate and assaulting a police officer in front of her four small children. As much as Halvorson would like to villainize law enforcement and child protection it is her behaviors on January 26, 2023 that were inexcusable and against the law.”
On March 7, a Redwood County jury found Emiley Brooke Halvorson guilty of one count of Fourth Degree Assault of a Peace Officer. Halvorson will be sentenced on April 22, at the Redwood County Courthouse.