Fight allegedly led to death, charges

A Cloquet man faces manslaughter charges following a fight in his apartment.

Joel Jay Ammesmaki, 58, was charged with first-degree manslaughter Thursday in Sixth District Carlton County Court for “causing the death of another while committing assault in the fifth degree with such force and violence” that death or great harm was “reasonably foreseeable.”

Officers from the Cloquet and Fond du Lac police departments responded to a 9-1-1 call at around 2 a.m. Sept. 14 reporting an unwanted person in an apartment at the Fond du Lac Veterans Supportive Housing building.

According to the criminal complaint:

Ammesmaki reported that he got in a fight with another male and wanted him removed from his apartment. When officers arrived, they observed Ammesmaki standing near a couch and an unresponsive male, identified as Clyde Atwood, 60, lying face up on the ground with dried blood around his nostrils. Atwood was unresponsive, his eyes were partially open and he was not breathing, police reported. Officers began lifesaving measures and called for medics. Paramedics attempted to provide care but said he was dead.

During this period, Ammesmaki allegedly became distraught and made statements that it wasn’t supposed to go this way. While the officers were attempting medical care, he made statements that he had punched the man in the face while they were fighting, police reported.

In the squad car and in an interview room at the police station, police said Ammesmaki made more unprompted statements about what happened. He allegedly said he and Atwood were drinking together and watched a football game and a movie. Ammesmaki said that at some point, Atwood called him by the name of another resident at the housing complex and attempted to punch him but did not make contact. Ammesmaki allegedly punched Atwood twice and the man fell down. Ammesmaki thought he was sleeping, according to the report.

Officers collected security footage from the complex showing Ammesmaki and Atwood, also a Cloquet resident, entering Ammesmaki’s apartment at 12:34 a.m. Ammesmaki then left his apartment and approached the security office at 1:29 a.m. before returning to his apartment at 1:40 a.m. The footage, according to the police report, shows Ammesmaki leaving his apartment and knocking on the door of another apartment at 1:42 a.m. before returning to his apartment.

Officers arrived on scene at 2:11 a.m. No one else was observed entering or exiting the apartment.

Adam Reed, investigations commander for the Cloquet Police Department, said autopsy findings will determine the cause of death but could take several weeks to be completed.

Ammesmaki’s next hearing is set for Sept. 27.