Jury trial set for Albert Lea man who slashed officer

MASON CITY – An Albert Lea man has entered a not guilty plea in a felony case where he is accused of slashing a police officer with a sharp object.

Teague Miller, age 24 of Albert Lea, is accused of interference with official acts while inflicting a serious injury, a class D felony, after an incident on May 10. An emergency call was made that day just after midnight alerting authorities to a man staggering down the middle of 4th Street SW, near the 800 block. Officers arrived and located Miller two blocks further west, near the 1000 block. Police said they had handled several companies about Miller over the last 72 hours. As officers approached, Miller fled west. They caught up to him 5 blocks later, near the 1500 block. While attempting to take Miller into custody, he allegedly produced an “improvised weapon” and repeatedly slashed officer Brandon Niedermayer’s face and head using a sharp object. Additional officers then used a taser to stop Miller. Niedermayer was transported to Mercy Medical Center Emergency Room where he was treated and released.

Miller has entered a not guilty plea and will face a jury trial on June 23 in Cerro Gordo county.

Niedermayer was back at work within a day. He was hired by the MCPD in August of 2008.