On 12/25/2018 at 12:35 p.m., the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office charged Gabriel David Cowden, age 20 of Emmetsburg, with Attempting to Disarm a Peace Officer and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, both are Class D Felonies. Cowden, who was incarcerated at the Palo Alto County Jail at the time of the incident, became verbally aggressive with other inmates and jail staff. Cowden started to throw personal effects from his jail cell and obstructed the jail security monitoring system. A deputy was called to assist and Cowden continued to be verbally aggressive and refused to obey the commands given to him. Cowden became physically aggressive and tried to gain control of the deputy’s holstered taser and throw bodily fluids at the deputy. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Emmetsburg Police Department.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.