CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake police officer facing a domestic assault charge says he is not guilty and the altercation was self-defense on his part.
On Thursday, December 1, 2016, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office investigated a reported domestic assault incident that occurred in Clear Lake. As a result of the investigation, Ryan Ray Eskildsen, age 36 of Clear Lake, was arrested and charged with Serious Misdemeanor Domestic Assault.
Mr. Eskildsen is a police officer employed with the Clear Lake Police Department serving in that capacity since October 2002. He was soon released from jail and a no-contact order was placed against Eskildsen, who has reportedly been on paid administrative leave since the incident.
On January 11, Eskildsen and his lawyer, Rich Piscopo, entered a not-guilty plea. Court records indicate his defense in the alleged altercation will be a claim of self defense.
A jury trial is scheduled for March 28, 2017. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 13.
